Pescopennataro: Stone, Forests and Trails

Pescopennataro combines a distinctive stoneworking culture with historic buildings, nature trails and forests in the surrounding area. If you would like to combine culture and outdoor activities on your trip to Italy, you will find a museum and churches here, as well as nature trails, climbing routes, a cycle path and cross-country ski trails in winter.

Stoneworking and Historic Sites

The Museo Civico della Pietra “Chiara Marinelli” houses more than 1,600 flint and limestone artefacts. The museum presents the Pescopennataro tradition of stoneworking, for which an artistic school of stonemasons emerged from around 1700 onwards. The recovered material includes archaic tools from the Lower Palaeolithic as well as particularly finely crafted tools from the Neolithic.

Several buildings add to this stone heritage. The Chiesa madre di S. Bartolomeo Apostolo dates from 1654. The Porta Di Sopra is a medieval arched gateway in Pescopennataro. The Madonna delle Grazie is a single-nave church whose design creates the illusion of three naves.

A distinctive religious tradition is associated with the Eremo di San Luca. The hermitage is located in a limestone cave at about 1,500 metres above sea level. During the annual procession for San Luca, the image is carried from the Eremo di San Luca to Pescopennataro on 10 September and carried back to the hermitage on foot on 18 October.

In the Bosco dell’Impero pine forest, the Parco di Pinocchio follows a path lined with sculptures depicting scenes from Pinocchio’s life.

Forests, Cliffs and Springs

The two Sites of Community Importance, Bosco della Vallazzuna and Bosco degli Abeti Soprani, are located in the Pescopennataro area; they feature a network of nature trails. The historic Tratturo “Ateleta-Biferno” also crosses the Pescopennataro area.

In the surrounding forests, silver firs grow alongside spruces, beech trees and Turkey oaks. A geological highlight lies in the western part of the built-up area: the “faglie trascorrenti di Pescopennataro” geosite includes visible examples of strike-slip faults along the cliffs.

The Sorgenti del Rio Verde are located not far from the town centre. There you will find oligomineral water, an equipped picnic area and a refreshment facility; there is also a camping area at the springs.

Trails and Activities

The S2 La Morgia–Abeti Soprani trail is 3.1 kilometres long, has a low difficulty level and can be walked, ridden by mountain bike or covered on horseback. There is a cycle path in Parco La Mandra.

The limestone walls of Pescopennataro mainly feature single-pitch climbing routes with grades from 4 to 7. There are also cross-country ski trails in the surrounding area, in the districts of La Pescara and La Gallina; part of these trails is located in La Pescara.

Summer Programme and Specialities

Estate Pescolana is the name of an events programme held in Pescopennataro from July to August. The Festa della Scamorza e della Lesca Cincialosa features typical flavours of the Molise mountains, including “schiaffune” and “pallotte”.

Other Places for Trip Planning

Vastogirardi, Venafro, Pescolanciano, Civitanova del Sannio, Bagnoli Del Trigno, Frosolone, Roccamandolfi and Isernia

To the higher-level travel overview: Isernia.