# Gran Sasso

The highest massif in the Apennines: the Campo Imperatore plateau, the Corno Grande, Rocca Calascio and stone villages such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/abruzzo/gran-sasso · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## What is Gran Sasso?

The highest massif in the Apennines, in Abruzzo, east of Rome. Its summit, the Corno Grande, reaches 2,912 m, and beside it the Corno Piccolo has a profile that locals call the sleeping giant. Beneath the Corno Grande lies the Calderone, a small glacier that shrinks every year. It's all within the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, created in 1991: about 150,000 hectares spread across three regions, five provinces and 44 municipalities.

Beneath the massif runs the A24 motorway, through a tunnel of about 10 km opened in 1984, and under 1,400 m of rock lies a particle physics laboratory.

## What is there to see?

Campo Imperatore is the great plateau south of the peaks: about 27 km long and 8 wide, between 1,500 and 1,900 m in altitude, with no trees, semi-wild horses and flocks that graze from spring to autumn. That's why it's called Little Tibet. Next to the upper cable car station, at 2,128 m, are the hotel where Mussolini was held prisoner in 1943 until German commandos freed him, an alpine botanical garden dating from 1952 with about 300 mountain species, and an astronomical observatory.

Rocca Calascio, at 1,460 m, is the highest fortress in the Apennines: a 10th-century tower to which a four-towered enclosure was added in the 13th century. The 1461 earthquake left it in ruins and it was never rebuilt. Next to it is the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà, from the 17th century. Scenes from Ladyhawke and The Name of the Rose were filmed here. Go at sunset, when the light drops over the plateau.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio, at about 1,250 m, is a stone village that once belonged to the Medici: their coat of arms is still on the village gate. The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake brought down its Medici tower. Today it has little more than a hundred residents and many of its restored houses form an albergo diffuso, a hotel spread through the village. Try its lentils, recognised by Slow Food; they celebrate their festival on the first weekend of September. Next door, Castel del Monte is another of the Borghi più belli d'Italia.

## Can you climb the Corno Grande?

Yes, in summer and with mountain experience. It's the highest summit in the Apennines and the ascent is high-mountain, even if you start from the comfort of Campo Imperatore, which the cable car reaches. Set out early, check the forecast and, if you have no experience, go with a mountain guide. If you don't want to reach the summit, the plateau trails and the passes around the hotel already give views of the walls.

## How do you get there and get around?

Fly to Rome: from there, the A24 motorway leads towards L'Aquila and Gran Sasso; Campo Imperatore is about 132 km from Rome. From the Assergi exit of the A24 you reach Fonte Cerreto in a short time, where the Gran Sasso cable car leaves: it climbs from about 1,125 m to 2,128 m, at Campo Imperatore, in about 7 minutes, over 3 km. Next to the lower station there's a large car park. You can also reach the plateau by road, and in winter, with snow, the high roads may close. Without a car it's hard to get around: the villages have few buses.

## What to eat?

Arrosticini, small skewers of mutton roasted on a long brazier, are the dish of Gran Sasso and the whole of Abruzzo. Also order the Santo Stefano lentils, local pecorino cheese and, to drink, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Apennines
- Cerca: Subiaco (a 71.7 km), Tivoli (a 84.6 km), Calcata and the Treja Valley (a 100.0 km), Assisi (a 102.4 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Campo Imperatore by car, from Fonte Cerreto to Castel del Monte** (4 h · Everyone · Free): What it is
The simplest way to understand the Gran Sasso: drive across Campo Imperatore, the plateau that stretches about 27 km at the foot of the peaks, between 1,500 and 1,900 m, without a single tree. You leave from the Assergi exit of the A24, climb via Fonte Cerreto and the SS17 bis to the esplanade of the hotel and the cable car, at 2,130 m, and descend across the plateau towards Fonte Vetica and Castel del Monte.
What to see on the way
Horses and cows graze loose beside the road, and flocks of sheep come up from spring to autumn. On the left, the walls of the Corno Grande and Monte Camicia. At Fonte Vetica, the Ristoro Mucciante sells the meat and lets you grill it on its braziers. From Castel del Monte you continue to Calascio and Rocca Calascio, or to Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
When
From May to October. In winter the SS17 bis is closed by snow and the plateau can only be reached by cable car. In fog you see little: check the weather before setting out.
- **Gran Sasso cable car, from Fonte Cerreto to Campo Imperatore** (2 h 30 · Everyone): What it is
The cable car links Fonte Cerreto, at about 1,125 m and a few minutes from the Assergi exit of the A24, with the Campo Imperatore esplanade, at 2,128 m: 3 km in about 7 minutes. Below there is a large car park. At the top are the hotel where Mussolini was held in 1943, the alpine botanical garden, the observatory and the start of the paths to the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi and the Corno Grande.
Before you go
In winter it is the only way to reach the western part of the plateau, because the road closes with snow, and on ski days long queues form. Between seasons it stops for maintenance, and in 2025 it was closed for several months to replace the cables. Check that it is running and the day's hours before going up; we have not found fares published by the operator, so ask the price at the ticket office.
- **Corno Grande by the normal route from Campo Imperatore** (7 h · Experienced mountaineers · Free): What it is
The normal route to the western summit of the Corno Grande, 2,912 m, the highest point in the Apennines. It starts from the esplanade of Campo Imperatore, at about 2,130 m, and climbs the slopes of loose stone, the brecciaio, on the north-west face. It is graded EE/F: hiking for experts with easy scrambling at the end. It is about 780 m of ascent; count on the whole day.
Before you go
It is not a stroll, even if it starts next to a cable car. There is loose stone, sections using your hands and a risk of falling rocks from people ahead: bring a helmet. In fog it is easy to lose the path in the scree. The Bafile bivouac, on the southern side, was withdrawn in 2024 as unstable, so don't count on a hut on the route. Without experience, go with a mountain guide.
Best season
From July to September, with the path free of snow. Set off early: summer storms arrive in the early afternoon.
- **Rocca Calascio, the fortress at 1,460 m** (2 h · Everyone · Donation): What it is
The highest fortress in the Apennines: a 10th-century tower, surrounded in the 13th century by an enclosure with four round towers, on a ridge at 1,460 m overlooking the plateau. The earthquake of 1461 left it in ruins. Below is the village of Rocca Calascio, almost abandoned and now partly lodgings, and a few hundred metres further on the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà, from the 17th century. Scenes from Ladyhawke and The Name of the Rose were filmed here.
How to climb up
By road from Calascio to the car park below the village, and from there on foot, along the cobbled street and the path to the castle. The cooperative of young people of Calascio opens the tower every day from 10:00 until dusk, with entry by donation, and organises guided visits. In summer, between 12:00 and 18:00, the car park fills up and there are jams on the road: go early or at sunset.
- **Walk to the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi, on the Monte Portella ridge** (2 h · Families with children who walk · Free): What it is
The shortest walk with high-mountain views in the Gran Sasso. From the hotel and cable car esplanade at Campo Imperatore, at about 2,130 m, a path climbs the slope to the Monte Portella ridge, where the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi stands, at 2,388 m. The CAI gives it 40 minutes. At the top you see the Corno Grande head-on and, on the other side, the Teramo side.
Eating at the top
In season the hut serves meals from 12:00 to 15:00. It is a good goal with children who already walk: the ascent is short, but the ground is stony and at that altitude the wind blows, so a baby carrier is better than a pushchair.
If you want more
From the hut a traverse of about 4 hours leads to Prati di Tivo, on the northern side. You need someone to pick you up below.
- **Santo Stefano di Sessanio, the Medici village** (2 h · Everyone · Free): What it is
A fortified medieval village above 1,250 m, inside the national park, which belonged to the Medici: their coat of arms is still above the entrance gate. The L'Aquila earthquake of 2009 brought down the Medici tower. The stone houses close in on one another and some streets are covered passages, such as via Sotto gli Archi, which runs through buildings and links two sides of the village to shelter from wind and snow.
What to do
Stroll without hurrying: it is small and can be seen in an hour. Many restored houses form the Sextantio albergo diffuso, and on via Sotto gli Archi is its restaurant, Sextantio Cucina. Ask in the shops about the village's lentils. From the small lake below the village you have a view of the whole village on the hillside.
Getting there
By car from L'Aquila, or coming down from Campo Imperatore via Castel del Monte and Calascio. You park at the entrance: the centre is pedestrian.
- **Castel del Monte, the shepherds' village at the edge of the plateau** (1 h 30 · Everyone · Free): What it is
The village that closes Campo Imperatore to the south-east, at 1,346 m, and one of the emblematic places of transhumance: from here the flocks set out for the plains of the Tavoliere, in Apulia. The stone houses huddle on the hillside, with the sporti, covered passages beneath the houses, in the historic centre. About 380 people live here. It is part of the Borghi più belli d'Italia.
How to fit it in
It is on the way: if you cross Campo Imperatore by car and come down via Fonte Vetica, you enter the village before continuing to Calascio and Santo Stefano. Leave the car below and walk up; in an hour you can see it all.

## Dónde comer
- **Sextantio Cucina** (Restaurant, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, €€€). Qué pedir: the menu of old recipes, with the area's pulses.
- **Ristorante Rifugio della Rocca** (Restaurant, Calascio, €€). Qué pedir: a first course of homemade pasta and, if in season, mushrooms.
- **Ristoro Mucciante** (Takeaway, Castel del Monte, €). Qué pedir: arrosticini to grill yourself on the braziers, with bread, pecorino and red wine.

## Consejos

### Drive across the plateau
The cable car leaves you at the top, but Campo Imperatore is 27 km long: it's better understood by crossing it by road with stops.

### Bring a jacket in midsummer
At 2,000 m it's cold and the wind blows hard on the plateau, which hasn't a single tree.

### Fill up the tank before you go up
There are no villages on the plateau, and those on the edge are far apart.

### Sleep in a village
Santo Stefano, Calascio or Castel del Monte let you see the plateau at dawn and dusk.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How many days do I need?
Two or three. One for Campo Imperatore and the cable car, one for Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano, and another if you want to climb the Corno Grande.

### When is it best to go?
From June to October. In winter there's snow and the high roads may close, although Campo Imperatore operates as a ski resort.

### Do I need a car?
Yes, almost always. Public transport between villages is scarce and the plateau has no regular services.

### Is the Corno Grande hard to climb?
It's the highest peak in the Apennines and a high-mountain ascent. With experience and good weather it can be done in a day from Campo Imperatore; without experience, go with a guide.

### Where should I sleep?
In the albergo diffuso at Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in houses in Calascio or Castel del Monte, or in L'Aquila if you prefer a city.

### What are arrosticini?
Small skewers of mutton cooked over embers, the typical dish of Abruzzo.