On the tracks of the chamois in Barrea, in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Italy

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From the jungle of the city directly into the forest inhabited by deer, chamois, and even the bear Marsicano: this was our choice to regenerate after months of living between smog and stress. A holiday which many people would need, is precisely what we have spent in the National Park of Abruzzo, in contact with uncontaminated nature. A set of mountain ranges between nine hundred and two thousand feet high, an amazing landscape that reminds even the Alps, with some snow-capped peaks that stand out even during the summer. The goal of our weekend was Barrea, mountain village in the province of L'Aquila, located over a thousand feet high, overlooking the valley, perhaps the most beautiful of the whole park.
We arrived in Barrea on Friday, five friends were, indeed, are, with us because there was Pablo, the dog of our friend Sonia. After settling at the Hotel Holidays, pending the nature of the excursion the following day, we immediately set off to discover the artistic and historic country. We soon realized that this place, besides being beautiful, it is very interesting from a historical and artistic point of view. Barrea's name comes from the Latin Vallis Regia, or the Valley of the Kings, but it is also possible to recognize in the name of the pre-Latin meaning "ravine" or "cliff." The town was founded around the year one thousand, but its territory was found numerous necropolis dating from a period from the seventh century to the fourth century BC. One of the essential steps of our cultural trip was in fact the Antiquarian Safina of Civilization, the museum site in Colleciglio places where you can admire the ancient tombs that tell a piece of history of Barrea.
During our walk we admired the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, the castle tower with a circular and rectangular, and the "Studio," a rare example of a fortress monastery, built by Benedictine monks around the year one thousand. Local people also tell us a curious tradition that binds to the early history of the country: the transhumance. In the imperial period, in the Vallis Regia had consolidated the transhumance, which consisted of the seasonal migration of flocks from the Abruzzi mountains to the plains of the territory of today's northern Apulia. This tradition is still alive every year during the event Tracturo Great.
After this long walk we returned to Hotel Holidays and we abandoned the pleasures of our first dinner in Abruzzo, themed fettuccine and grilled. We were struck by the goodness of homemade dishes, made with fresh produce of this land, not to mention excellent wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.
The main day of our holiday was that on Saturday, during which we made a memorable trip in the beautiful Valley of Roses, one of the most exciting tours of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo. During the trip we were accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide who was able to explain all the secrets of this beautiful valley, but not only are his predictions have come true even to the fact that we could catch sight of a species unique to the Apennine chamois Abruzzese. In Latin they are called chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica, and important lie behind the name of individuals truly beautiful: the velvet cloak, from the look lively and sweet at the same time, and the big horns and slender, which is one of the chamois is obviously no reason to pride. But now we, in our small, happy and also proud to have walked and struggled a bit 'in order to capture the excitement of seeing these enchanting places of rare beauty, and to say that he made the acquaintance of some real Abruzzi chamois.
Our day had a very nice conclusion: another dinner, this time with sagne, beans and sausages, and stuff you would not believe, after the long hike in the mountains, we also managed to find the strength and enthusiasm to enjoy the great evening of music and dance group, the proposal from the hotel. Sunday morning we woke up happy, and after a last stroll in the country, during which we went to admire the scenery of Lake Barrea, we had the last lunch of typical regional foods.

Last lunch, so to say, because we, the most stubborn of some chamois, after a holiday so beautiful, we are sure to come back to Barrea as soon as possible to relive these emotions and to meet other amazing deer and chamois on the slopes of the Apennines of Abruzzo.

Frances Bertha

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.hotel-holidays.it
0864/88370
www.parconazionaledabruzzo.net
www.comune.Barrea.aq.it