La Tavola dei Briganti a history to be rediscovered with an easy and breathtaking hike

On the Majella, amidst evocative landscapes and unique natural environments, there is the 'Tavola dei Briganti': a set of limestone slabs on which brigands and shepherds have engraved names and messages to testify to their ideals and their history, or, more simply, to leave a sign of their presence in the scenarios that characterised their lives.

In the years following the proclamation of the Unification of Italy, numerous bands of brigands formed on the Majella. In 1866, the Piedmontese, in order to stem this phenomenon, built a fortified outpost called Blockhaus in these parts. It was precisely in the vicinity of this blockhouse that the aforementioned stone slabs were erected, above which the brigands, often at night, inscribed some anti-unification messages to mock the Piedmontese soldiers.

One of the most famous is as follows:
'Read my memoir for dear readers. In 1820 Victor Emmanuel was born King of Italy. First 60 was the kingdom of flowers, now it is the kingdom of misery. Later, the inscriptions of the shepherds who brought their flocks to the high mountains were added'.

In addition to the very interesting history and great historical value of this testimony, it is important to emphasise the rare beauty of the places and paths to be crossed to reach the Tavola dei Briganti. The route, which is easy and suitable even for the less experienced, will give you the chance to walk on the mountain ridge and admire the Majella in all its strength and beauty and the wide valleys that extend to its flanks, in an environment of great naturalistic value.

A day, therefore, spent breathing in the fresh, clean mountain air, contemplating rare natural beauties and discovering distant and interesting testimonies that have been part of the history of the region and our country. History, nature and culture, once again... in Abruzzo.