Le Mainarde are a mountain range shared between Abruzzo and Molise. The highest peak is Mount Meta, but the whole area is a beautiful area of alpine peaks and landscapes; yes, I said alpine, because even if we are talking about the Apennines, the aspect is that of the high mountains. Green pastures, with free cows and horses, alpine lakes, snowfields where you can go for walks or practice Nordic walking. And the mountain centers which are well known for winter sports.
For example the country of capracotta, a center perched at 1420 meters is the base to reach Gentile meadow, a well-equipped area for the cross country where in March 2014 i Europe Championshipsi of the specialty. Capracotta boasts a traditional ski club, a small but charming old town, where the buildings on the two main streets are built in the local, white limestone that characterizes the whole area. Right in the center, in an ancient building for refreshments, there is a restaurant L'elfo that pays great attention to typical products, from orapi (wild spinach that grow at high altitude) to truffles, from mushrooms to lamb and wild boar meat. Local specialty is the pecorino di Capracotta, delicious in the various seasonings.
He is also a mountaineer Pescopennataro, a land of stone and climbing. Several routes for this sporting specialty are marked on the steep rocky walls that are located right on the edge of the village. Pescopennataro is all surrounded by silver fir woods, a botanical rarity in these latitudes, a protected species. Here too the possibility of walking in an uncontaminated territory. Apart from the villages, nature dominates unchallenged: zero noise, zero engines, vast skies often plowed by the flight of the eagle.
In Pescopennataro there is a Montagna Amica hostel that hosts both families and groups at very competitive prices. To eat instead, I recommend the opposite Equipped Park and Ristoro White Fir. Upper Molise cuisine with wonderful appetizers of vegetables, cheeses and cold cuts, chitarrine (spaghetti alla chitarra), grilled meat. They spend about 15 euros each.
