Pescopennataro: Stone Culture, Forest Trails and Cross-Country Skiing
Accommodation in Pescopennataro
Stoneworking and Churches
The Museo Civico della Pietra “Chiara Marinelli” in Pescopennataro houses more than 1,600 artefacts made of flint and limestone. 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 Paleolithic and particularly finely crafted tools from the Neolithic.
File:Pescopennataro - Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie.jpg
Photo: Pietro via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Eremo di San Luca is located in a limestone cave at an altitude of about 1,500 metres above sea level. During the annual procession for San Luca, the image is taken from the Eremo di San Luca to Pescopennataro on 10 September and carried back on foot to the hermitage on 18 October. 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.
In the Bosco dell’Impero pine forest, the Parco di Pinocchio follows a path lined with sculptures depicting scenes from the life of Pinocchio. The “faglie trascorrenti di Pescopennataro” geosite features visible examples of strike-slip faults along the rock walls in the western part of Pescopennataro’s built-up area.
Forests, Trails and Nature
The two Sites of Community Importance, Bosco della Vallazzuna and Bosco degli Abeti Soprani, are located in the Pescopennataro area. Bosco della Vallazzuna and Bosco degli Abeti Soprani are crossed by a network of nature trails. The historic tratturo “Ateleta-Biferno” crosses the Pescopennataro area.
The area around Pescopennataro is home to forests of silver firs, which grow alongside spruces, beeches and Turkey oaks. The Sorgenti del Rio Verde springs are located not far from the town centre and offer oligomineral water, an equipped picnic area and a refreshment facility. There is also a camping area at the Sorgenti di Rio Verde.
Active Outdoors and in Winter
The S2 La Morgia–Abeti Soprani trail is 3.1 kilometres long, has a low difficulty level and can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. A cycle path is located in Parco La Mandra. The limestone walls of Pescopennataro are mainly home to single-pitch climbing routes with difficulty grades ranging from 4 to 7.
There are cross-country ski trails in the La Pescara and La Gallina districts around Pescopennataro; part of these trails is located in La Pescara.
Events and Mountain Cuisine
Estate Pescolana is an events programme held in Pescopennataro from July to August. The Festa della Scamorza e della Lesca Cincialosa features typical flavours of the Molise mountain region, including “schiaffune” and “pallotte”.
More destinations: Incoronata, Capracotta, Agnone
Back to the main travel overview: Isernia.
