GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS

di Anthony Lambert (1951)

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The village of Pescocostanzo is ranked one of  Italy's most beautiful with its delightful alleyways and stone houses dating back to the 16th century, many with external staircases.

Roccaraso was the birthplace of Giuseppe Angeloni, who as member of the newly unified Italiana parliament for Sulmona promoted the idea of the railway, his efforts recorded in a plaque at the station. He would recognize little of the town today because it was comprehensively mined by the retreating Germans and had to be rebuilt after the Second World War, becoming a major ski resort.

The line makes another U-bend to reach Alfedena-Scontrone and Castel di Sangro before climbing steeply to the longest tunnel on the railway under Monte Pagano, at 3.1 km (2 miles). At Capracotta, the railway leaves Abruzzo and enters Molise.

Carovilli is known for the truffles found in the surrounding forests and for caciocavallo cheese. From Pescolanciano there are views of the great block of Castello d'Alessandro on its rocky spur, which acted as the headwuarters of the Gustav line and later of the advancing Anglo-American forces.

• A. Lambert, Great Rail Journeys. 36 Adventures from Across the World, Lincoln, London 2026, pp. 96-97.

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