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Italy

Abruzzo

L'Aquila

View of Campo Imperatore – Duca degli Abruzzi Hut loop from Ruderi di Sant'Egidio

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Italy

Abruzzo

L'Aquila

View of Campo Imperatore – Duca degli Abruzzi Hut loop from Ruderi di Sant'Egidio

Hard

4.7

(3)

hikers

View of Campo Imperatore – Duca degli Abruzzi Hut loop from Ruderi di Sant'Egidio

06:26

20.0km

730m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.45 km

Lake Pietranzoni

Highlight • Lake

Don't just ride or cycle past the Laghetto di Pietranzoni. This small mountain lake, located at an altitude of 1,660 meters in the middle of Campo Imperatore, is one of the most photogenic spots in the Abruzzo region. The natural lake, formed by glaciers, constantly changes size due to meltwater and rain, making every visit different.

Why stop here?
On a windless day, the imposing Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines, is beautifully reflected in the clear water. The endless high plain, aptly nicknamed 'Little Tibet', offers a unique landscape full of peace and space. Moreover, it requires hardly any effort: from the parking lot, you can walk to the shore in just a few minutes. In spring, thousands of blooming crocuses provide a colorful spectacle, while the lake is a perfect spot year-round to take a break, take photos, and fully enjoy the impressive landscape.

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9.16 km

Campo Imperatore Summit

Highlight • Summit

This is the arrival point of the Campo Imperatore road. Located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, various stages of the Giro d'Italia have arrived here: the stage won by Marco Pantani in the 1999 Giro stands out for its importance. Various hiking trails start from here, including the one that leads to the western peak of Corno Grande, the highest point of the Gran Sasso chain of Italy.

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9.22 km

Church of Our Lady of the Snow, Campo Imperatore

Highlight • Religious Site

The chapel was built in 1934 by order of Cardinal Federico Tedeschini and is the highest consecrated church in Italy and one of the highest consecrated churches in Europe at 2,150 m above sea level. On June 20, 1993, the church was consecrated by Pope John Paul II after extensive restoration and reconstruction work. Pope John Paul II liked to go incognito in the area around the Campo Imperatore or Gran Sasso. If the weather is nice, you have a sensational view from up here to the Adriatic Sea or inland.

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10.2 km

View of Campo Imperatore

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Campo Imperatore is an absolute must-see due to its otherworldly, vast mountain landscape, also known as 'Little Tibet' (Piccolo Tibet). It is one of the largest and highest plateaus in Europe (located at approx. 1,800 to 2,100 meters).

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10.7 km

Duca degli Abruzzi Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

This place is very beautiful, with a beautiful view of the valley called 'little Nepal'. You can drink and eat and you can pay by card, not just cash. Easy hike from the cable car, about 200-300 meters of elevation gain. It is also possible to stay overnight.

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12.0 km

Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory

Highlight • Monument

The Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory on Campo Imperatore, officially the Stazione Osservativa di Campo Imperatore, is one of Italy's most special observatories, located at an altitude of 2,150 meters. Since its opening in 1965, astronomers here have benefited from exceptionally clear nights. Thanks to a natural phenomenon, thermal inversion, clouds and artificial light often remain trapped in the valleys, making the night sky above the plateau remarkably dark and clear.

Historical tidbit: one of the observatory's most important telescopes has a remarkable history. The AZT-24 infrared telescope was originally intended as a gift from Adolf Hitler to Benito Mussolini during World War II and was known as the "Mussolini telescope." However, due to the fall of the fascist regime, the telescope was never delivered. After the war, the instrument was taken by the Soviet Union to the Pulkovo Observatory. It wasn't until after the end of the Cold War that the telescope returned to Italy, where it finally found a permanent home on Campo Imperatore in 1997.

The observatory also played an important role in modern astronomy. Between 2001 and 2004, during the CINEOS project, scientists discovered more than 1,500 new asteroids, including several so-called Near-Earth Objects that approach Earth's orbit. Thus, Campo Imperatore is not only one of the most beautiful places to stargaze but also a location that makes a significant contribution to the research of our solar system and the monitoring of potential space risks.

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12.1 km

Campo Imperatore

Highlight • Natural Monument

Campo Imperatore is one of Italy's most impressive natural areas. This vast, treeless high plain at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters is not called 'Little Tibet' for nothing. Surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Gran Sasso massif, it offers a spectacular setting for hikers of all levels. From relaxed walks across the rolling plateau between grazing sheep and horses to challenging climbs of Monte Aquila, the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi, or even Corno Grande (2,912 m), the highest peak in the Apennines. Thanks to accessibility by car or cable car, you can start your hike right in the middle of the high mountains, with breathtaking panoramas along the way and a landscape that has served as a backdrop for countless films.

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12.2 km

Start of the Gran Sasso Trail, Stage 1

Highlight • Trail

The official departure of the Cammino del Gran Sasso is scheduled in the scenic square of Campo Imperatore, at the foot of the Gran Sasso, the highest mountain massif in the Apennines.

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20.0 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

12.5 km

3.52 km

1.84 km

1.79 km

363 m

Surfaces

12.9 km

2.99 km

2.42 km

1.75 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (2,360 m)

Lowest point (1,640 m)

Weather

Thursday 16 July

32°C

15°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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View of Campo Imperatore – Duca degli Abruzzi Hut loop from Ruderi di Sant'Egidio

Lake Pietranzoni

Campo Imperatore Summit

Church of Our Lady of the Snow, Campo Imperatore

View of Campo Imperatore

Duca degli Abruzzi Hut

Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory

Campo Imperatore

Start of the Gran Sasso Trail, Stage 1

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