Lepini Mountains

This itinerary lasts for one day and starts at 8:00 from the horse-riding centre, and ends at about 6:00 pm.
The route enters a beautiful and picturesque natural environment, typical of the Monti Lepini. Riders cross an age-old chestnut grove just outside the centre: this type of vegetation grows up to about 700 metres above sea level. Higher up, between 700-1100 metres, a variety of plants grows ranging from hornbeams to durmasts, from junipers to holm-oaks.
Carpineto owes its name precisely to the great number of hornbeams (carpino, in Italian). Between 1100 and 1500 metres, riders will cross picturesque beech groves, as well as encounteringa thick growth of taxus baccata, a plant which dates back to the Ice Age.
The most interesting geographical point of this route is Pian delle Faggeta, a karst plateau 1000 metres above sea level. Here riders and horses can rest and then continue their trip to the Monte Semprevisa(1536 m), the highest and most stunning peak of the Monti Lepini.

Pian della Faggeta is classified by S.I.C. (site of EU community interest) because of the many specimens of characteristic flora and fauna which grow here. Several interventions by the EU community aim to help safeguard and enhance this area both from an environmental point of view and a tourist one. Along the itinerary, herds of Esperia ponies can be seen, raised in a wild state. On Monte Sempreviva, at about 1200 metres, a perennial spring with fresh and unpolluted waters runs: the Sambuco stream.
The itinerary is of average difficulty: its overall length is about seven hours, plus three for rests and lunch.

Information
Centro Ippico Il Ceppetto
C.da Ceppetto – 00032 Carpineto Romano
Phone 335/5255732 – 320/4390022
Fax 06/97180029
valerianocacciotti@carpinetoromano.it

This horse-riding centre is affiliated to FITETREC-ANTE, the Federation of Equine Tourism.

This family-run farm raises Esperia ponies (introduced in Italy in the 10th century by the Moors), the black pig of the Lepini which risks extinction, cattle and goats. The Centre has a 40×20 metres work field, 8 brick boxes, 8 open-air boxes and stalls for 20 horses. In addition, there are 6 paddocks for a total area of 4600 metres. English horse-riding is practised, and some labour-riding, in a non-American style. 10 expert and sure-footed horses are available for trips, as well as 5 mules used both as beasts of burden and, if necessary, for riding purposes.