L'itinerario ha inizio dallo splendido borgo di Villavallelonga a 1005 metri d'altezza, nel cuore del Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo Lazio e Molise. Da piazza largo Fontana, nei pressi del municipio, ci si tiene a destra per imboccare via Canale in direzione sud; dopo 100 metri, si gira a destra e si raggiunge l’ingresso del Museo dell'Orso che merita senz’altro una visita.
In the province of Teramo, located within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, in Abruzzo, near the border with the Marches, there is one of the most fascinating valleys of the Apennines, the Gole del Salinello Nature Reserve. The Gorges of Salinello are a protected natural area to protect the deep gorges created by the Salinello river, between the Foltrone and Girella mountains, also known as the Gemelli Mountains, which, over the millennia, has been able to grasp landscapes of uncontaminated beauty and hiking trails of unspeakable charm, characterized by springs, waterfalls, streams and ponds. The huge canyon is dotted with caves of karst origin, some inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic period, around 10,000 years BC. Particularly beautiful is the Grotta di Sant'Angelo also called Eremo or Grotta di San Michele, built in a natural cave, where mass is still celebrated on May 1st and September 29th. Located slightly outside the gorges are the impressive ruins of Castel Manfrino, located in Macchia da Sole, a picturesque fortress built by King Manfred of Swabia, between the twelfth and thirteenth century, on a cliff guarding the valley, the whose structure today there are only a few sections and part of the walls. The reserve is also characterized by the presence of Tholos, ancient agropastoral structures.
Further information www.gransassolagapark.it - tel.0861.918321