Pescopennataro: What to See, Itineraries, and Information

The small village of Pescopennataro, in the province of Isernia, in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park, is a place from which a world opens up, made of nature, sports activities immersed in greenery, and artistic craftsmanship created through ancient manual skills and new forms of material recycling.

Index of topics

The village

Pescopennataro was founded in the 11th century, during the Norman era. The name derives from the fact that the town is located on a large rock (pescium o fish), pointed in shape (pinnate). Pescopennataro's strategic location cost its population dearly: the town was almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War, and then rebuilt elsewhere, on the slopes of Mounts San Lorenzo and Torrione. Within the village, the Church of San Sebastiano is worth a visit: a small church located in the heart of the town, where you can admire local works of art.

Get inspired

Pescopennataro is nestled in a rock in the Upper Molise region, overlooking the entire Sangro Valley. A path through silver firs, which from spring to autumn is a gentle bicycle path, you reach the Bosco dell'Impero and in particular the Pinocchio Park. Here, during a Live Sculpture Symposium in July 2008 and 2009, works were created by artists from all over Italy and abroad. A tribute to the tradition of Pescopennataro, a land of master stonemasons since the 18th century, as demonstrated by the jewel of the "Chiara Marinelli" Civic Stone Museum.

The entire Pescopennataro area, between small rivers and streams, is populated by various silver fir forests, a very rare species in a region dominated by spruce and beech trees. The most exciting way to explore the woods of this area is by snowmobile in the winter and by ATV in the summer.

Soprani Fir Forest

In the first case, you'll experience the thrill of a 40-minute hike through the Bosco degli Abeti Soprani at an altitude of approximately 1.250 meters. The silver firs are majestic and slender trees: on average, they reach a height of 30 meters, but in some cases even reach 50 meters. The trails around the fir trees in the Bosco degli Abeti Soprani are always groomed in winter, and when the INFO The area is abundant, and is also ideal for snowshoeing, a healthy stroll through the fresh snow. In summer, the same area offers hiking and ATV excursions, always accompanied by a guide, allowing you to experience the thrill of continuous ups and downs through the forest, interrupted only by breaks to admire breathtaking views of the Sangro Valley.

Forest of the Empire

The Bosco dell'Impero is also populated by silver firs, but the main attraction here, in terms of sustainability, are the sculptures of Pinocchio Park. The works dedicated to the protagonist of Carlo Collodi's tale are created by reviving the ancient technique of the master stonemasons of Pescopennataro and recovering local stones, which, along with the firs, form a natural pairing in the area. After the walks in the boschi, you can dedicate yourself to the art of stoneworking, which here is much more than a craft activity.

Civic Stone Museum

The tradition of stone carving, whose origins date back to prehistoric times, gained solid ground in Pescopennataro during the Samnite period. It blossomed in the 18th century with the establishment of the first school of master stonemasons. The quality of the workmanship is evident in the fountains, especially the one in Piazza del Popolo created by master stonemason Nicola De Lallo, and in the churches and aristocratic palaces of nearby Agnone, a center of important commissions for the master stonemasons of Pescopennataro. The mastery of Pescopennataro's stonemasons is best appreciated with a visit to the "Clara Marinelli" Civic Stone Museum, a must-see. The exhibition halls house 1.600 artifacts from various periods, distributed across three sections. The first is dedicated to igneous and metamorphic rocks, and the formation of flint. A second section houses fossils and prehistoric stone-working tools. The final rooms, finally, feature photographs and works by the stonemasons of Pescopennataro, including a nativity scene created with natural stones smoothed by water.

Live Sculpture Symposium

The Pescopennataro Live Sculpture Symposium is an annual event held in this small town in Upper Molise during the first two weeks of July. A dozen sculptors from around the world come together to create works carved from natural stone. They perform live, in front of an audience of residents and tourists. Some of the works, such as those dedicated to the adventures of Pinocchio, are then placed along the paths of the Bosco dell'Impero.

Lake Campitello

One of the most suggestive places in the vicinity of Pescopennataro is Lake Campitello, a small artificial basin surrounded by montainsIt's a perfect place for those seeking relaxation in contact with nature or for those who want to practice water activities such as fishing or boating.

Information

For all information about Pescopennataro you can write to:

[email protected]

For excursions on foot, by bike, by snowmobile or by quad, you can write to:

[email protected]

Where to sleep

To enjoy the beauty of the area, we recommend staying outside the village, closer to the areas where you'll be doing your activities. Among the most charming places to stay, we suggest:

Pastor Rosello's House, About 4 kilometers from the center of Pescopennataro. Completely surrounded by greenery, with excellent cuisine.
B&B La Torre, Just over three kilometers from the village center. Comfortable and welcoming.
Vittoria Sweet Home. An entire apartment, with lots of charm, at your disposal.
Swallow's Nest Hotel. All rooms have a terrace or large windows to admire the panorama of the area.

Where to eat

The Pescopennataro area is home to a wealth of restaurants, trattorias, and hotels that also offer meals. We recommend:

The Silver Fir. Weather permitting, you can also eat outside: the location is beautiful. Excellent local cuisine.
The Friendly Mountain Home. The best of Molise cuisine, with local products.
Le Panche Restaurant. Tasty dishes, many of which are based on very fresh fish.

What to buy

The entire Pescopennataro area is famous for its typical products. In particular, the following are worth purchasing:

Cavatelli with meat sauce: a typical homemade pasta, served with meat sauce, often pork, and topped with plenty of pecorino cheese.
Sausage and salami: cured products that represent the tradition of pork processing, typical of this mountainous area.
The truffleThe Pescopennataro area is also known for its truffle production, which is collected in the surrounding woods and used to enrich pasta and risotto dishes.

Photo credits: Simone Di Niro – Francesco Terrieri

Pescopennataro: from silver fir forests to quad bike excursions