Monte Porrara

Overview

Monte Porrara seen from Cima Ogniquota

Monte Porrara is the southernmost summit of the Majella Range (Montagna della Maiella). Together with its northern neighbour, Cima Ogniquota, it is located upon a ridge between upper Val Peligna and Valle dell'Aventino. To the south you will find the bog-like plain Quarto di Santa Chiara.

Even though it is located close to the ski centres Roccaraso, Pescocostanzo and Campo di Giove, even though it is famous for its views towards Majella, Montagna del Morrone and the mountains of the Parco nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, Monte Porrara is still rarely visited.

To reach Monte Porrara there are three routes from three trailheads which combine at north-south running summit ridge. the easiest routes starts in the south near the train station Stazione di Palena and follows (more or less) the south ridge of the mountain. The second starts in Palena village to the east and heads up a dirt road (you might even drive up there to about 1250m elevation) in many switchbacks before heading across a path towards the pass Guada di Coccia. from here it traverses the north ridge across Cima Ogniquota to Monte Porrara. The third route makes use of a ski lift from Campo di Giove to Guada di Coccia from where you hike the same traverse across Cima Ogniquota.

Monte Porrara can be climbed in any season and weather. the southern route is safe from avalanches while the northern routes pose some risks in the steep sections abov Guada di Coccia. Also, there is some exposure on the northern routes so that the southern one is the most popular one of the three.

360° Summit Panorama

360° Summit Panorama from Monte Porrara

Getting There

• From Rome:
  • Take motorway E80 / A24 from Rome to Torano.
  • Switch to motorway A25, direction Pescara.
  • At the exit Pratola Peligna / Sulmona switch to SS17 to Sulmona.
    1. • After Rivsindoli switch to SS84 and after a few km you'll reach Pescocostanzo
       • Turn onto SS84 until you reach the train station Stazione di Palena. The trailhead is 1km north of the station on the eastern side of the road
    2. • From Sulmona take SR487 to Campo di Giove
       • Switch to an unnamed road to Pescocostanzo until you reach the trailhead 1km north of Stazione di Palena
       • For Palena pass the station and swith to SS84 east on Quarto di Santa Chiara
• From Pescara
  • Take motorway E80 / A25 westward in direction Rome.
  • At the exit Pratola Peligna / Sulmona switch to SS17 south, passing Sulmona.
    1. • After Rivsindoli switch to SS84 and after a few km you'll reach Pescocostanzo
       • Turn onto SS84 until you reach the train station Stazione di Palena. The trailhead is 1km north of the station on the eastern side of the road
    2. • From Sulmona take SR487 to Campo di Giove
       • Switch to an unnamed road to Pescocostanzo until you reach the trailhead 1km north of Stazione di Palena
       • For Palena pass the station and swith to SS84 east on Quarto di Santa Chiara

Red Tape

Monte Porrara is part of Parco Nazionale della Majella. The usual restrictions apply. For more information see the park's website

• Parco Nazionale della Majella

Accommodation

There's ample accommodation'options in the area, however rather hard to find. Google searches often end up at the tripadvisor, casamundo or booking.com portals. There is a thriving community of British expatriates, many of whom offer apartments for rent. Maybe a good starting point is this site

• welcometosulmona.com

Weather Conditions

Maps & Books

Maps

• Digital Maps
  • www.pcn.minambiente.it
  
  
• Regular Maps
  
  • Majella
    1:25000
    Edizioni il Lupo
    ISBN: 978-88-86610-68-1

Books

• Abruzzen
  Heinrich Bauregger
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN 978-3-7633-0413-2

External Links

• A useful link with a lot of information about the mountains of Abruzzo
  
• An interesting page about Palena and its history
  
• An interesting page about the mountains of Abruzzo

Images

View Monte Porrara Image Gallery - 22 Images