The Apennines, also called the Apennine Range, is a chain of mountains that forms the spine of the Italian Peninsula (also called the Apennine Peninsula). At just over 900 miles in length, they are anchored in the north at their juncture with the southern Alps, and they extend to the ‘tip of the boot’ at the southern extremity of the peninsula. The range is composed of terrain that ranges from rolling lowlands to sheer cliffs and knife-edge ridgelines. The highest point of the Apennines is Corno Grande, which lies in the central portion of the range 27 miles inland of the Adriatic Sea. Rising to 9,554 feet above sea level, Corno Grande is home to one of Europe’s southernmost glaciers, the tiny Calderone.
The Apennines bush trip begins in the northern end of the range at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (LIPE), just northwest of the city of Bologna. From there, the route weaves its way southward along the backbone of the Italian Peninsula, visiting cities, villages, lakes, forests, and parks, passing by some of the great peaks of the range.
The journey comes to a close by traversing the shoreline of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the southernmost reaches of the peninsula, then ends at Reggio Calabria Airport (LICR), just outside of the city of Reggio Calabria, on the shore of the Strait of Messina.
Assistance on the trip will be available in the form of a ‘Back on Track’ button on the VFR Map — however, be advised that using this will disable achievements tied to the activity.
Total Legs: 9 Total Distance: 565 Total Time(125kts): 4 hours 31 minutes
Leg 1
Borgo Panigale to Peretola
Leg Distance: 51.58 Approximate time at 125kts: 25 minutes.
Borgo Panigale(LIPE) to Bologna(POI1)
Distance: 2.9NM Bearing: 135° 1 minutes
Ahead lies the adventure of the entire Italian Peninsula, flown along the corridor of its geographic spine, weaving a path that passes by its highest summits to its southernmost extremity where it meets the water in the heart of the Mediterranean. After launching from Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, fly to the southeast, over Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of the country.
Bologna(POI1) to Sasso Marconi(POI2)
Distance: 7.1NM Bearing: 210° 3 minutes
From Bologna, turn to the southwest, and fly to the town of Sasso Marconi. Use the river Arno, along the banks of which the town was built, as a visual reference.
Sasso Marconi(POI2) to Monte Sole Regional Park(POI3)
Distance: 4.94NM Bearing: 191° 2 minutes
From Sasso Marconi, head south-southwest, passing over the confluence of the river Arno and the river Setta to Monte Sole Regional Park, passing to the left of Monte Sole, 2,191 feet above sea level.
Monte Sole Regional Park(POI3) to Castiglione dei Pepoli(POI4)
Distance: 10.7NM Bearing: 189° 5 minutes
Continue on course to the small town of Castiglione dei Pepoli, named after the Pepoli, a local aristocrat family, using the A1 highway as a visual reference.
Castiglione dei Pepoli(POI4) to Lago Bilancino(POI5)
Distance: 10.41NM Bearing: 156° 5 minutes
From Castiglione dei Pepoli, Turn to the south-southeast and pass over the A1 Highway and the village of Barberino di Mugello to reach Bilancino Lake, a man-made reservoir created with the damming of the river Sieve.
Lago Bilancino(POI5) to Prato(PRATO)
Distance: 8.7NM Bearing: 224° 4 minutes
From Lago Bilancino, turn to the southwest and fly just to the right of a ridge of peaks of the Calvana Chain of the Apennines. Continue to the city of Prato, the capital of the Tuscan province of the same name, and the second largest city in Tuscany after Florence.
Prato(PRATO) to Sesto Fiorentino(POI6)
Distance: 5.01NM Bearing: 118° 2 minutes
Turn southeast and skirt the base of the mountains, keeping them to your left, to Sesto Fiorentino, a town created by the Romans that lies on the outskirts of the Florence metropolitan area.
Sesto Fiorentino(POI6) to Peretola(LIRQ)
Distance: 1.82NM Bearing: 168° 1 minutes
At Sesto Fiorentino, turn to the south-southeast and immediately descend to land at Florence Airport (LIRQ).
Leg 2
Peretola to Arezzo
Leg Distance: 38.12 Approximate time at 125kts: 18 minutes.
Peretola(LIRQ) to Florence(POI7)
Distance: 3.61NM Bearing: 119° 2 minutes
After launching from Florence Airport, set a course to the southeast, keeping the river Arno to your right, to the heart of Florence.
Florence(POI7) to Incisa Val d’Arno(POI8)
Distance: 12.06NM Bearing: 132° 6 minutes
Turn slightly to the south, passing over the river Arno, and then roughly parallel the A1 Motorway to the town of Incisa Val d’Arno, built on the western bank of the river Arno.
Incisa Val d’Arno(POI8) to Lago di Castelnuovo(POI9)
Distance: 4.69NM Bearing: 176° 2 minutes
Turn due south from Incisa Val d’Arno, flying above a gentle valley, to reach Lago di Castelnuovo. The lake is the largest and southernmost among a cluster of four, and lies just to the south of a paved road.
Lago di Castelnuovo(POI9) to River Arno(POI10)
Distance: 12.68NM Bearing: 101° 6 minutes
From Lago di Castelnuovo, set a heading to the east-southeast, passing over the town of Montevarchi and then the A1 Motorway where it closely parallels the river Arno. Continue on course to where the river Arno is dammed to form Invaso della Penna, a long, winding lake.
River Arno(POI10) to Arezzo(LIQB)
Distance: 5.08NM Bearing: 115° 2 minutes
After passing over the lake, turn slightly to the south into a southeasterly heading, begin descending, and land at Arezzo Airport (LIQB).
Leg 3
Arezzo to San Egidio
Leg Distance: 40.16 Approximate time at 125kts: 19 minutes.
Arezzo(LIQB) to Arezzo(POI11)
Distance: 1.61NM Bearing: 71° 1 minutes
Lift back into the sky and immediately head east-northeast to pass over Arezzo, the capital city of the Tuscan province Arezzo.
Arezzo(POI11) to Castiglion Fiorentino(POI12)
Distance: 7.33NM Bearing: 164° 4 minutes
After passing over Arezzo, turn into a south-southeast heading, flying over a north-south ridge of peaks to reach Castiglion Fiorentino, a walled town that traces its roots to the Etruscans of pre-Roman times.
Castiglion Fiorentino(POI12) to Lago Trasimeno(POI13)
Distance: 12.83NM Bearing: 136° 6 minutes
From Castiglion Fiorentino, turn slightly more to the east, flying just past Monte Le Cevitelle (1,886 feet above sea level). Pass by the town of Cortona, then over a small ridge of mountains to reach Lago Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy.
Lago Trasimeno(POI13) to Perugia(POI14)
Distance: 12.95NM Bearing: 105° 6 minutes
Turn into a southeast heading at Lago Trasimeno, passing over its eastern shore, then fly over the prominent Monte Malbe, at the eastern foot of which lies Perugia, the capital city of the central Italian region Umbria.
Perugia(POI14) to San Egidio(LIRZ)
Distance: 5.44NM Bearing: 94° 3 minutes
From Perugia, turn slightly to the north into an east-southeastern heading, pass over the river Tiber where it makes a prominent bend, and land at Umbria International Airport, just to the east of the river.
Leg 4
San Egidio to Preturo
Leg Distance: 68.24 Approximate time at 125kts: 33 minutes.
San Egidio(LIRZ) to Assisi(POI15)
Distance: 4.86NM Bearing: 105° 2 minutes
Lift back into the sky and head southeast to the town of Assisi, which lies on the northwest flank of Monte Subasio, one of the most prominent massifs of the northern portion of the Apennines.
Assisi(POI15) to Foligno(POI16)
Distance: 7.82NM Bearing: 147° 4 minutes
At Assisi, turn south and fly above the western margin of Monte Subasio to Foligno, a city with ancient roots that is built around the Topino River.
Foligno(POI16) to Spoleto(POI17)
Distance: 13.43NM Bearing: 169° 6 minutes
From Foligno, turn into a nearly due-south heading, following the base of this section of the Apennines and the river Maroggia to Spoleto, a city amid rolling hills adorned with vineyards and olive groves.
Spoleto(POI17) to Monteleone di Spoleto(POI18)
Distance: 10.78NM Bearing: 114° 5 minutes
Turn southeast, flying into the heart of this section of the Apennines. Pass over the river Nera, the largest tributary to the Tiber, then fly above Monte di Civitella, the highest peak in this region, to reach the remote town of Monteleone di Spoleto, located in an isolated valley.
Monteleone di Spoleto(POI18) to Lago di Scandarello(POI19)
Distance: 13.6NM Bearing: 89° 7 minutes
Turn into a nearly due-east heading, flying amid summits topping 6,000 feet above sea level, to Lago di Scandarello, a long, narrow, southwest-northeast trending reservoir tucked into a high Apennine valley.
Lago di Scandarello(POI19) to Amatrice(POI20)
Distance: 1.49NM Bearing: 108° 1 minutes
Turn to the southeast and pass over the mountain town of Amatrice.
Amatrice(POI20) to Lago di Campotosto(POI21)
Distance: 7.12NM Bearing: 146° 3 minutes
Form Amatrice, fly to the southeast into a prominent valley to the U-shaped Lago di Campotosto, an artificial lake created in the 1930s. The highest mountain in the Apennines, Corno Grande, lies 10 miles to the southeast.
Lago di Campotosto(POI21) to Preturo(LIAP)
Distance: 9.14NM Bearing: 193° 4 minutes
Turn into a south-southwest heading, passing over a broad valley and then land at L’Aquila-Preturo Airport (LIAP), which lies just south of the village of San Vittorino.
Leg 5
Preturo to Aviosuperficie Celano
Leg Distance: 28.76 Approximate time at 125kts: 14 minutes.
Preturo(LIAP) to L’Aquila(POI22)
Distance: 4.06NM Bearing: 108° 2 minutes
After launching, set a southeast heading, following the river Aterno to L’Aquila, the capital city of the province of the same name and the Abruzzo region of Italy.
L’Aquila(POI22) to Borgo San Lorenzo(POI23)
Distance: 5.8NM Bearing: 114° 3 minutes
Continue following the river Aterno to the small village of Borgo San Lorenzo.
Borgo San Lorenzo(POI23) to San Demetrio Ne Vestini(POI24)
Distance: 2.54NM Bearing: 114° 1 minutes
Continue from Borgo San Lorenzo on the same course and shortly reach the hamlet of San Demetrio ne’ Vestini.
San Demetrio Ne Vestini(POI24) to Torre degli Abbruzzi(POI25)
Distance: 6.11NM Bearing: 142° 3 minutes
Fly to the southeast, just east of the path of the river Aterno, to the town of Torre Degli Abruzzi.
Torre degli Abbruzzi(POI25) to Celano(POI26)
Distance: 8.33NM Bearing: 205° 4 minutes
Turn to the southwest, flying over a broad plain to the town of Celano, the location of which is marked by the intersection of a number of roads and a railroad.
Celano(POI26) to Aviosuperficie Celano(LIFP)
Distance: 1.92NM Bearing: 159° 1 minutes
Turn to the south-southeast and land at Celano Airstrip (LIFP), just south of the town.
Leg 6
Aviosuperficie Celano to Aviosuperficie Olivola
Leg Distance: 90.33 Approximate time at 125kts: 43 minutes.
Aviosuperficie Celano(LIFP) to Avezzano(POI27)
Distance: 6.04NM Bearing: 257° 3 minutes
From Celano Airstrip, head to the west-southwest, flying over a broad plain, to the city of Avezzano, which lies on the eastern base of Monte Cimarani, a prominent peak in the area.
Avezzano(POI27) to Collelongo(POI28)
Distance: 11.56NM Bearing: 137° 6 minutes
Turn into a southeasterly heading, flying above the eastern margin of a ridge of peaks where it meets the flats of Fucine Lake, once the third largest lake in the country until it was drained in 1878. Pass over the town of Collelongo at the southwestern end of Fucine Lake.
Collelongo(POI28) to Pescasseroli(POI29)
Distance: 10.26NM Bearing: 113° 5 minutes
Turn slightly to the north, following the southwestern edge of the valley, then pass over a low ridge of peaks on its south to reach the resort town of Pescasseroli, headquarters of Abruzzo National Park, which protects Monti Marsicani, the sixth highest range of peaks within the Apennines.
Pescasseroli(POI29) to Lago di Barrea(POI30)
Distance: 7.68NM Bearing: 104° 4 minutes
Continue on course, passing over some low passes and roughly following a two-lane road to Lago Barea, a long, narrow reservoir.
Lago di Barrea(POI30) to Isernia(POI31)
Distance: 16.42NM Bearing: 124° 8 minutes
Trace the southern shore of Lago Barrea, pass over a stretch of broad, rolling hills, then fly just to the east of the prominent La Romana mountain to reach Isernia, capital of the province Isernia. The town lies at the intersection of a number of paved highways.
Isernia(POI31) to Campitello Matese(POI32)
Distance: 10.76NM Bearing: 136° 5 minutes
Maintain a southeastern heading, flying over a series of low peaks that lead to the base of a prominent mountain shoulder and the ski resort town of Campitello Matese.
Campitello Matese(POI32) to Lago del Matese(POI33)
Distance: 2.98NM Bearing: 174° 1 minutes
Fly due south to Lago del Matese.
Lago del Matese(POI33) to Lago di Campolattaro(POI34)
Distance: 16.6NM Bearing: 107° 8 minutes
Turn to the east-southeast, passing over a small valley and then just south of the mountain village of Morcone to reach Lago di Campolattaro, a large lake surrounded by a nature preserve.
Lago di Campolattaro(POI34) to Aviosuperficie Olivola(LIEH)
Distance: 8.03NM Bearing: 173° 4 minutes
Fly due south from Lago di Campolattaro, roughly following the paved highway that winds southward, over the hamlet of Torrepalazzo, and land at Olivola Airfield (LIEH).
Leg 7
Aviosuperficie Olivola to Aviosuperficie Grumento Nova
Leg Distance: 83.26 Approximate time at 125kts: 40 minutes.
Aviosuperficie Olivola(LIEH) to Benevento(POI35)
Distance: 3.34NM Bearing: 149° 2 minutes
After taking off from Olivola Airfield, set a south-southeast course, paralleling the south-trending highway leading from Torrepalazzo, to Benevento, the capital city of the province of the same name.
Benevento(POI35) to Avellino(POI36)
Distance: 12.52NM Bearing: 174° 6 minutes
Head due south, following the Sabato River, to its turn to the east, and then continue heading south, flying over the village of Altavilla Irpina, to reach the city of Avellino, located on a plain surrounded by peaks of the Apennines.
Avellino(POI36) to Montella(POI37)
Distance: 11.45NM Bearing: 110° 5 minutes
Turn to the southeast at Avellino, flying just to the left of Monte Calcara d’Alessio, the highest point in the local stand of peaks just ahead, and then come to the town of Montella, located in a small valley.
Montella(POI37) to Calabritto(POI38)
Distance: 9.96NM Bearing: 106° 5 minutes
Continue on a southeasterly course, flying into a small range of peaks on the east side of which lies Calabritto, a small mountain town.
Calabritto(POI38) to San Gregorio Magno(POI39)
Distance: 11.08NM Bearing: 128° 5 minutes
From Calabritto, turn slightly more southward and follow the eastern margin of the valley to the south of Calabritto, then pass over a small spur of peaks to reach the town of San Gregorio Magno.
San Gregorio Magno(POI39) to Sala Consilina(POI40)
Distance: 17.87NM Bearing: 146° 9 minutes
Visually pick up Motorway A2 in the distance, and follow it to the southeast to reach Sala Consilina, a village built onto the side of a mountain.
Sala Consilina(POI40) to Padula(POI41)
Distance: 4.57NM Bearing: 137° 2 minutes
Continue paralleling Motorway A2, staying to its east, to reach the hamlet of Padula, home of a large monastery.
Padula(POI41) to Aviosuperficie Grumento Nova(LIGT)
Distance: 12.47NM Bearing: 105° 6 minutes
Set a southeasterly heading and fly above low peaks to gain a visual on a distant lake, Lago Pietra del Pertusillo. Land at Grumento Nova Airfield (LIGT), located on the western side of the lake, south of its north arm.
Leg 8
Aviosuperficie Grumento Nova to Aviosuperficie Franca
Leg Distance: 79.11 Approximate time at 125kts: 38 minutes.
Aviosuperficie Grumento Nova(LIGT) to Lago Pietra del Pertusillo(POI42)
Distance: 2.86NM Bearing: 73° 1 minutes
Lago Pietra del Pertusillo lies immediately to the east of Grumento Nova Airfield.
Lago Pietra del Pertusillo(POI42) to Episcopia(POI43)
Distance: 13.64NM Bearing: 151° 7 minutes
From Lago Pietra del Pertusillo, set a course to the southeast, at first following a dirt road that winds into the region’s highlands toward the east, and then tracking to the east of a series of peaks to the right. The town of Episcopia lies ahead at the juncture of the river Sinni and a dirt road.
Episcopia(POI43) to San Severino Lucano(POI44)
Distance: 3.66NM Bearing: 146° 2 minutes
Maintain a heading to the southeast and visually pick up a paved road leading to the town of San Severino Lucano.
San Severino Lucano(POI44) to Castrovillari(POI45)
Distance: 12.43NM Bearing: 161° 6 minutes
From San Severino Lucano, fly out across a wide plain and then up into a small range of forested peaks, maintaining a straight heading between two high, prominent mountains, Serra del Prete and Mont Pollino. The village of Castrovillari lies just ahead.
Castrovillari(POI45) to Lago di Tarsia(POI46)
Distance: 13.24NM Bearing: 159° 6 minutes
Maintain your heading, picking up and following the river Coscile, which flows south of Castrovillari, and then follow Motorway A2 until Lago di Tarsia comes clearly into view.
Lago di Tarsia(POI46) to Lago di Cecita(POI47)
Distance: 16.86NM Bearing: 139° 8 minutes
Head in a southeasterly direction, passing over the village of Acri, then continue over forested highlands to Lago di Cecita, a reservoir formed by the damming of the river Mucone.
Lago di Cecita(POI47) to Lago Arvo(POI48)
Distance: 8.36NM Bearing: 173° 4 minutes
Fly due south, over a large forest, until Lago Arvo, a large reservoir formed by the damming of the river Arvo.
Lago Arvo(POI48) to Lago Ampollino(POI49)
Distance: 6.2NM Bearing: 108° 3 minutes
To the southeast of Lago Arvo, just past the prominent peak Montenero, lies the long, narrow reservoir Lago Ampollino.
Lago Ampollino(POI49) to Aviosuperficie Franca(LISG)
Distance: 1.86NM Bearing: 112° 1 minutes
Continue on course to the southern side of Lago Ampollino and land at Franca Airfield (LISG).
Leg 9
Aviosuperficie Franca to Reggio Calabria
Leg Distance: 85.29 Approximate time at 125kts: 41 minutes.
Aviosuperficie Franca(LISG) to Lago Passante(POI50)
Distance: 8.95NM Bearing: 229° 4 minutes
From Franca Airfield, set a course to the southwest, flying over the river Tacina, then pass just to the south of Monte Tempone Morello, the most prominent peak ahead, to reach Lago Passante, a large reservoir.
Lago Passante(POI50) to Lametia Terme(POI51)
Distance: 12.56NM Bearing: 225° 6 minutes
From Lago Passante, head to the southwest, descending from the southern reaches of the Apennines toward the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea and visit the city of Lamzia Terme.
Lametia Terme(POI51) to Lago Angitola(POI52)
Distance: 13.99NM Bearing: 190° 7 minutes
From Lamezia Terme, fly south-southwest, inland of the coastline, to Lago Angitola, a large reservoir near where the Apennines meet the sea.
Lago Angitola(POI52) to Vibo Valentia(POI53)
Distance: 7.42NM Bearing: 235° 4 minutes
Turn to the southwest, keeping the Tyrrhenian Sea in view off to the right, and pass over Vibo Valentia, the capital city of the Vibo Valentia province.
Vibo Valentia(POI53) to Rosarno(POI54)
Distance: 12.75NM Bearing: 203° 6 minutes
From Vibo Valentia, turn slightly toward the south, and follow the course of route SS18 to the city of Rosarno.
Rosarno(POI54) to Palmi(PALMI)
Distance: 9.74NM Bearing: 213° 5 minutes
Continue to track SS18, near the water’s edge, to Palmi.
Palmi(PALMI) to Reggio Calabria(POI55)
Distance: 17.42NM Bearing: 208° 8 minutes
Maintain your heading, passing over the water briefly, to reach Reggio Calabria, which lies on the shore of the Strait of Messina, the waterway that separates the Italian Peninsula from Sardinia. The city is located at the geographic center of the Mediterranean Sea, where the southernmost foundation of the Apennines meet the water.
Reggio Calabria(POI55) to Reggio Calabria(LICR)
Distance: 2.46NM Bearing: 176° 1 minutes
Turn due south and land at Reggio Calabria Airport (LICR), bringing this journey along the backbone of the Italian Peninsula to an end.
