Canyon dello Scoppaturo — Ring tour

01:50

6.83km

90m

Hiking

Embark on the Canyon dello Scoppaturo — Ring tour, an easy hike through a surreal, desert-like landscape in Italy's central Apennines. You will navigate between enormous rocky blocks and along gravel paths, experiencing a terrain carved by water and glaciers. This 4.2-mile (6.8 km) route features a gentle 284 feet (87 metres) of elevation gain, taking about 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. While mostly stony, you'll also find meadows dotted with wild plants like gentian, a symbol of Campo Imperatore. The unique scenery makes for a distinctive hiking experience.

This easy trail is suitable for all fitness levels, offering mostly flat and accessible paths. While not technically difficult, it is advisable to wear appropriate shoes due to the accidental ground. You should also avoid hiking on the hottest days, bringing a hat and sunscreen for protection. Be aware that the western part of the canyon can be subject to flooding until July, so plan your visit accordingly.

The Canyon dello Scoppaturo is notable for its cinematic history, having served as a filming location for numerous "spaghetti westerns," including "They Call Me Trinity." You can also discover the "Grotta della Valianara," known as the "Witch's Cave," linked to local legends. Along the route, you will find a monument dedicated to a shepherd family lost to blizzards in 1919, and *ghiaioni* or scree fields, remnants of the area's glacial past. After your hike, consider visiting nearby eateries like Ristoro Mucciante for traditional *arrosticini*.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

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964 m

Shepherd and Family Statue

Highlight • Monument

The story of Pupo Nunzio di Roio from October 1919 is one of the most poignant historical tragedies of the Abruzzo region. It symbolises the harsh and dangerous reality of the transumanza (the seasonal migration of livestock), which for centuries determined the economic and social life of this Italian mountain region.

This place commemorates one of the most tragic events in the history of the transumanza, the age-old migration where shepherds drove their sheep every summer to the green pastures of Campo Imperatore and returned in the autumn to the warmer plains of Puglia.

In the autumn of 1919, the 41-year-old shepherd Nunzio Pupi, better known as Pupo Nunzio, postponed the descent for a few days. The autumn was exceptionally mild, and he wanted to let his flock of no less than 5,000 sheep graze for as long as possible. But the weather unexpectedly turned. A fierce snowstorm caught him by surprise in the middle of the high plain. Together with his two young sons, Idolo (12) and Alfredo (11), and their loyal sheepdog, he became disoriented in the snow.

None of them survived the icy storm. The entire flock also perished. According to local legend, his wife Ersilia Caruso could not cope with the loss of her husband, her children, and their sole source of livelihood. She died a short time later, consumed by grief.

This moving story recalls the hard life of the shepherds, who were completely dependent on nature and often paid a high price for their existence.

About the monument:
Monument of Fonte Vetica

In Fonte Vetica, on the southeastern plateau of Campo Imperatore, stands an impressive monument commemorating the tragedy of 1919. The Abruzzese sculptor Vicentino Michetti immortalised the shepherd, his two sons, and their dog as they desperately fought against the icy snowstorm. A little further away stands the statue of the mother, with outstretched arms directed towards the mountains, hoping to see her family return alive.

Although the monument tells one poignant story, it has become a tribute to all the shepherds of Abruzzo who, over the centuries, risked their lives during the arduous transumanza. Anyone who stops at Fonte Vetica today immediately feels the impressive combination of overwhelming beauty and the unforgiving power of this mountain landscape.

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