A journey Through History, Beauty and Culture.
An excursion in the heart of Abruzzo and Molise, between protected areas that crosses mountains and narrow gorges. A spectacular route that alone is worth a slow journey to discover the small villages and large towns where history, traditions and nature meet. Regarding the name, there are various theories. The most fictionalized one according to which the name "Trans-Siberian" would come from a Russian journalist who in those years, traveling on this train, was stuck in these mountains during a blizzard .. from that episode the journalist was impressed by the amount of snow and cold, which he thought of comparing it "to his Siberia", hence precisely 'Trans-Siberian of Abruzzo'. According to official sources, however, the name was coined in 1980 when an article in the magazine Gente Viaggi, edited by Luciano Zeppegno, described a long journey by train, divided into ten stages, through the Apennines, calling it the “Italian Trans-Siberian”.
Conceived in the aftermath of the unification of Italy with the Baccarini law of 1879 to connect the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian through the Apennines, it was a work of great difficulty that was inaugurated in 1897 and still considered a full-fledged masterpiece of civil engineering. Among all the Apennine railway crossings, it is the one with the highest crossing altitude, as many as 1268 meters, and as long as South Tyrol was not Italian, even the highest station of the ordinary gauge network on sea level,
Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo at 1268,82 mt., then surpassed by the Brenner at 1370 mt.
The Territory Crossed
128 km of unparalleled beauty that flows from the window, crossing the Apennines from Abruzzo to Molise between breathtaking and changing landscapes at the turn of the seasons, enchanting historical centers, protected areas and sites of cultural interest, such as to make the Ferrovia dei Parchi the most requested tourist route in Italy. A trip on the park railway is not a simple train trip, but a real geography lesson flowing out the window. From the hilly heights of the Conca Peligna, at just over 300 meters above sea level, to the buttresses of the Maiella massif and the Major Highlands of Abruzzo, touching the 1268 meters at the Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo station, and then descend to 800 meters on the upper Sangro valley and enter the wooded valleys of the Upper Molise, concluding the journey returning to the hilly hills of Isernia, just over 400 meters above sea level. In over 20 stations and locations, the 128 km of the Ferrovia dei Parchi offer wonderful views, which know how to amaze for their authenticity, for the most part protected territory rich in biodiversity. The various itineraries starting from Sulmona touch some of the most beautiful villages in Abruzzo: Roccaraso, Campo di Giove, Castel di Sangro .. This journey by historic train, in short, lulled at low speed on vintage carriages, immerses you in a dimension in which the person and the places reconnect with each other, leaving aside the frenzy of everyday life. An experience to live at a slow pace with high sociality, to interact, get to know and get to know each other. Every departure on the Railway of the Parks is a unique emotion. The journey immerses itself in a territory that would be difficult to tell if not crossed, slowly, on a railway route. From the departure in the morning, from Sulmona, there are stops along the route that give the possibility to the traveler to know, savor, deepen or even just to ... slow down. A day of travel, round trip, full, which leaves a baggage of curiosity and knowledge to take home, to share and, why not, the point of a new departure perhaps in another season. In this period, the historic train that travels the tracks and the snow-capped woods is a sight not to be missed, in the heat of the carriages. The oldest carriages of the 20s are completely refurbished wooden, offering a dip in the past in a magical atmosphere ... especially with the snow! From the end of November to the Epiphany, characterized by many special departures on the occasion of the Christmas markets that can be visited in the host locations during the stops of the historic train. The magic of the Christmas atmosphere between artisan products, typical dishes and seasonal specialties, decorated houses, lights and entertainment.
Technical aspects
In the design area there were several doubts and difficulties in the same identification of the route, for the going of the completely mountainous territory crossed. The need to connect with a route possibly the most favorable but also logically close to the inhabited centers to favor the use of the train, maintaining an acceptable slope and a minimum radius of curves not too low so as not to compromise the speed too much, led to identify what is still today the original route from Sulmona to Isernia, 128 km of which 25 are occupied by 59 tunnels, as well as important bridges and viaducts. We recommend that you buy tickets on the site as soon as they come out, as they run out right away!
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