A Weekend of Waterfalls, Ghost Villages & Climbing in Acquafraggia

Spending a weekend in Acquafraggia felt like stepping into another world—a place where time slows down, waterfalls roar in the background, and hidden climbing crags wait to be discovered. We packed our gear, laced up our boots, and set off for an adventure packed with hiking, camping, and some unexpected climbing epics.

Day 1: The Acquafraggia Loop via Savogno

The weekend kicked off with the Acquafraggia Waterfall Loop via Savogno (Anello Cascate), a hike that promised cascading waterfalls, abandoned villages, and a brutal number of stone steps. The trail starts right at the base of the famous Acquafraggia waterfalls, an impressive multi-tiered cascade that immediately sets the tone for the day. The misty air and roaring water made for a dramatic backdrop as we set off.

From the get-go, the trail climbed steadily, winding through dense forest, crossing old bridges, and revealing hidden waterholes along the way. The real challenge came with the infamous 1,500+ stone steps of the mule track leading up to Savogno. It was a quad-burning, heart-pumping ascent, but the reward was worth absolutely it.

Savogno is like a forgotten world—stone houses frozen in time, narrow alleyways untouched by modern roads, and a silence that feels almost sacred. Technically abandoned since 1968, the village is only seasonally inhabited by former residents who return for the summer months. We took our time wandering the medieval passageways before grabbing a well-earned drink at Rifugio Savogno.

The descent took us along a different path, offering new angles of the waterfalls and a gentler return to the valley. By the time we reached camp, legs burning and spirits high, we were more than ready for a night under the stars.

Camping in Acquafraggia

Camping near Acquafraggia means falling asleep to the sound of cascading water and waking up in the crisp mountain air. The campsite was simple but had everything we needed—tent spots, picnic areas, and the kind of peace you only get in the mountains.

Sitting on our camping tarp eating a hot plate of pasta made on the camping stove, reliving the day's adventures, and gearing up for climbing the next day t the sound of the waterfall nearby made for the perfect end to an epic hike.

Day 2: Exploring the Hidden Crags of Acquafraggia

With the hike behind us, day two was all about climbing. Acquafraggia has a mix of single-pitch sport routes and adventurous multi-pitches, with crags scattered along the mountain at different elevations. The variety is huge—there’s something for every level.

While information about climbing in the area was hard to come about here is what we found out:

Acquafraggia Climbing Mini-Guide

Acquafraggia is a climbing area near a campsite, featuring multi-pitch routes on vertical rock with unique erosion patterns. It includes:

• Settore Falesia – Sport climbing routes

• La Mezzera – Good for beginners with short, challenging routes with some for children

• Falesia del Caprone – Overhanging routes for intermediate/advanced climbers, best for winter climbing

• Settore Cagatorio – Hard routes (grades up to 8b)

Other climbing areas nearby:

• Scilano – Shaded crag with routes from 6b to 8a+

• Cranna – Classic crag with varied routes, climbable in light rain

  Most Rated Multipitches

  For those looking for longer routes, Acquafraggia offers some excellent multipitches with breathtaking views.

  • Via Dalle Mogli (5c/5c/6a+) – A great introduction to multipitch climbing, with well-bolted pitches and moderate difficulty.

  • Mamma Mia (6b, 250m) – One of the most beautiful multipitch routes in the area, with varied climbing and stunning exposure.

  • Indiana Jones (6b/7a/5b) – A classic route with exposure and an adventurous feel.

The approach varies from 5-30 min hikes from parking or camping areas.

When things just don’t work out

Day 2 of our weekend turned out to be one of those days where you need to make some judgement calls and listen to your intuition on whether it’s a good idea to push a situation that is clearly not going your way, and that’s ok - part of enjoying adventures in the outdoors is to accept that sometimes things don’t work out as planned and a level of flexibility is necessary to still have a good day.

Our plan for the day was to climb Italia 90’s, a 2-star multipitch route that looked promising on paper with lower grades for a cruisey climbing morning before heading back home.

Sometimes things just feel off from the beginning and after spending half the morning trying to find the start of the climb through thick bushes and fallen trees we ended up finding ourselves on the wrong line that felt sketchy right from the first pitch.

Rather than fighting against fate, we decided to cut our losses and spend the afternoon at Settore Falesia, the nearby sport-climbing sector with a variety of fun short slab routes and great views.

Before heading home, we scoped out Mamma Mia 3-star (5c/6a/6a/6a/6a) in Settore Boiler, one of the most well-known multi-pitches in the area. With its stunning line and steady grade progression, it’s definitely on the list for next time.

Final Thoughts

Acquafraggia delivered everything we wanted and more—bush hikes, ghost villages, roaring waterfalls, unexpected climbing adventures, and a campsite that felt like a slice of wilderness paradise. Whether you're here for the trails, the crags, or just to soak in the beauty, this spot has it all. And if nothing else, it guarantees you’ll leave with tired legs and stories to tell.

Until next time, Acquafraggia. We’ll be back for Mamma Mia!