There is a small Tibet in Italy. It is called Campo Imperatore and is located in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park. A vast plateau, more or less deep lakes and a barren landscape. This is the scenario, a destination for adventure-oriented tourism but not only. Bikers and motorcyclists discovering a free range land. Hikers, sportsmen and famous people from the past.
Campo Imperatore: a sensory gymnasium
See, hear and observe. Actions that we should always implement when we prepare ourselves for the knowledge of something. But there are places where this is even more true and indeed indispensable. Campo Imperatore is an environment dominated by vast spaces. The vast plateau, visually remarkable, frees the eye in every direction. The absence of boundaries stimulates the mind which, released, relaxes in meditative reflections. The naturalist Fosco Maraini, visiting Campo Imperatore in the 30s, underlined the similarity with an eastern land. The Phari-Dzong plain, between India and Lhasa. And in fact our little Tibet is one of the largest plateaus in Italy.
Its history is quite remote. A glacial origin behind it and a massive human intervention then. The intense deforestation carried out for centuries with the aim of creating spaces to be used for animal grazing. A work that is reflected in the scarce vegetation of the territory, if we exclude Fonte Vetica where we can find the only wooded area of the place. But to enrich the whole are the lakes. Small pools of water with a rounded shape, among which that of Pietranzoni stands out. The latter in fact occupies a privileged position. At the center of the plateau it offers a spectacular view.
Visitors and tourists
The conformation of Campo Imperatore, in its wild guise, makes the area attractive for visitors. Human and non! On the one hand, the wide expanse and the presence of spacious meadows favor the presence of flocks. Transhumance and grazing are activities practiced constantly. Several common neighbors from which the herds come. calascio, Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano di Sessanio. But a place with such characteristics could only be a destination for passionate hikers is they seek the pleasure of a walk in connection with nature, or that they see the possibility of adventure in this place.
First of all bikers who find in Campo Imperatore the right space to beat country trails. Then there are the centaurs. Groups of motorcyclists who organize trips under the banner of Gran Sasso. The barren face of the landscape where the so-called "slaughterhouse area" is located. A concentrate of refreshments. Cold cuts, meats and typical skewers abruzzese. These are the products offered by local traders. Skilfully organized with barbecues, confirming the rustic imprint of the place, they are a stopping point for various visitors. Recover your energies with genuine foods and enjoy a little more of the panoramic views of the “little Italian Tibet”.
In the winter, tourism undergoes a transformation. The high altitude favors the snow and with this the ski slopes. They can be reached by taking the cableway that from Fonte Cerreto leads to the hotel in Campo Imperatore, where you can spend a holiday dedicated to sport and discovery.
Curiosity
The curiosities that denote Campo Imperatore can be traced back to the character of the territory but also in the different observation point. A man of faith will see in the solitude and silence of the landscape a perfect place for spiritual meditation. Not by chance Pope John Paul II he used to frequent this land. As evidence of his visits, an iron cross remains on one of the peaks of the Gran Sasso. But the peculiarities of this plateau were also Benito Mussolini's hiding place. He who saw in the conformation of the territory a datum of secrecy. Here he spent some time in a hotel room in Campo Imperatore, now a museum. The little Italian Tibet is a place that wears a multipurpose dress, readable from various points of view. A journey made of senses.
