Central Apennines of Italy

The central Apennines covers three of these regions – Abruzzo, Marche and
Umbria. Here walkers can find secluded valleys and waterfalls, mystical gorges
and beautiful woodland, easy mountain excursions and vast plains. Rock
climbers head for the Gran Sasso d’Italia which boasts giant, pyramidal rock
walls and buttresses towering above plains and farmland only a stone’s throw
from the Adriatic coast. Corno Piccolo (2655m) alone has more than a hundred
excellent routes from grade II to VIII on compact limestone. In winter, the
central Apennines assume the character of the Alps, offering a number of
challenging snow gullies and some mixed ground, especially in the Gran
Sasso/Laga and Monti Sibillini National Parks. Fernetillo and Grotti are two
of Italy’s finest sport climbing venues and the mild climate hereabouts makes
it possible to climb throughout the year.