Flowers at Castelluccio

Thanks KevanLooks like the walk starts some way from Castellucio.  Is there an obvious starting point or do you just plunge in off the road?

Hi AnnecIf you look at the satellite map at the bottom of the Piano Grande walk (just below the video) - it shows Castelluccio at one end of the Piano Grande and the start of the walk at the opposite end of the plain. It's an incredibly straight road and right at the end of the road, just before it hits the bend and starts climbing out of the valley, there is a turn off onto the track at the start of the walk. You will also see the pylons for the electricity running in the direction of the walk and a clear track to follow. You can park here (just at the start of the track) and the walk starts and ends here. We took blankets and had a picnic not far from the car - the kids played on the track as we didn't want them trampling too many of the wild flowers.

I was in Castelluccio a couple of weeks ago. It's a bit "Wild West", isn't it? In fact, I was just thinking that when a herd of unaccompanied donkeys came down the main street!

..I love Castellucio - it's just the most surprising thing as you turn the corner of Monte Vettore and the Piano Grande opens out with Castellucio like something out of Lord of the Rings popping up in the middle.  I've yet to time my visit with the best of the wildflowers, but the landscape is worth it anyway.  And of course there's always the Italy-shaped tree plantation

 Lentils from Castelluccio are considered the best in Italy and real "gourmet" food. They are small and green in colour and a real "healthfood" because of its high protein and mineral salts content. They should not be soaked as they cook very quickly. The only problem is that they are produced in limited quantities and you pay a high price for them. But really worth it!A typical dish from the area is "Lenticchie di Castelluccio con salsicce" (Castelluccio Lentils with Sausages).