Mount Pallano.

The MOUNT PALLANO dominates the middle and lower valley of the  Sangro River and is the most impressive relief of southern Abruzzo. Traces of Palaeolithic and the Neolithic period have been found both on the western side and on the eastern side of the mount. However the most impressive remains are the Megalithic Walls, dated VI-IV century. a. C., a massive fortification built with blocks of local limestone. They are the meaningful sign of the town that once stood on the plateau, almost certainly the Pallanum of the ancient itineraries, from which the mountain has inherited its name.So the Hellenistic-Roman settlement, situated just a few meters far from the Megalithic Walls, protected and represented by fortifications, was the capital of a small tribe of Samnite stock, the northern Lucani. A people that was in the middle of war between the late fourth and early third century. BC, when Rome was performing the maneuver of encirclement of Sannio and had every incentive to conquer the mighty fortress of Mount Pallano that controlled the access to Apulia. The average altitude (1020 m.) of Mount Pallano and its proximity to the sea, greatly influences the vegetation, and so in a small area are found different woodland plant communities that make the mountain one of the  richest foothills as regard forest diversity. The specific environmental observed is also reflected on the faunal component, both among the invertebrate species and in higher animals. For these important characteristics Mount Pallano has been appointed as S.I.C, ie a site of interest for European Community.

Program:  9:30am Welcome  c/o the Centro Visite e Documentazione del Parco -  guided tour c/o archaelogical area of Mount Pallano ( Megalithic Walls and Roman Hellenistic settlement) - back to the Centro visite walking on a   wooded path downhill (difficulty level T) – 1:30 food taste of typical local produce c/o the Ristoro dei Paladini –  3:30 guided tour to a honeybee farm in  Tornareccio and honey tasting – 5:00 back home (from June to September)