Stage 01 bike – L’Aquila – Navelli

The first MTB stage of the Cammino della Pace begins at the basilica of Collemaggio, in L’Aquila, one of Abruzzo’s iconic sites, where the remains of Pope Celestine V are enshrined. From here, the trail winds along the course of the Aterno River, passing through the hamlet of Monticchio and grazing the necropolis of Fossa. It then continues, still along the river, passing downstream from the village of Sant’Eusanio Forconese, thus reaching the village of Villa Sant’Angelo. It continues along the Aterno valley to San Demetrio ne’ Vestini and, after an uphill stretch, joins the Tratturo Magno until it reaches the archaeological area of Peltuinum, an ancient Italic-Roman city. From here, you descend to the medieval church of San Paolo di Peltuinum and continue in the direction of the village of Prata d’Ansidonia, cross it arriving at the fortified village of Castel Camponeschi, cross the small hamlet of Tussio and climb the mountainous hump on which the cave of San Michele Arcangelo is located, you can reach the castle of Bominaco (on foot); from the cave of San Michele Arcangelo descend to the Benedictine complex of Bominaco, formed by the church of Santa Maria Assunta and the oratory of San Pellegrino, and proceed along the dirt road in front, for a flat stretch and then downhill, to the village of Caporciano, cross it and descend to the plain below to the church of Santa Maria di Cintorelli, which marked the point where the Tratturo Magno forked giving rise to the Centurelle-Montesecco branch. Continue eastward on the plain and reach the hamlet of Civitaretenga; from here, descend the other side again, flank the church of Santa Maria in Cerulis and reach Navelli, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.