Fara San Martino sits at the foot of the eastern Majella and is famous in Italy for pasta as much as scenery. The cold mountain water and local pasta factories make the village a pleasingly practical base: you can hike a gorge and eat very well afterwards.
The nearby valley narrows into limestone walls, with the ruins of San Martino in Valle adding a historical turn to the walk. It is one of the best entry points for travellers who want the Majella to feel immediate rather than distant on the horizon.