Abruzzo is a magnificent region that is strong in a millenary rural tradition and rich in a great popular culture, famous in particular for its very varied territory, in fact, the region is ideal both for those who want to relax by the sea and for those who want to discover picturesque villages rich in history and charm. The lure of the mountains adds to that of the sea, completing the picture of an infinitely varied and typically characterized landscape.

The proposed itinerary guides visitors to discover two magnificent and historic mountain villages, Rocca di Mezzo and Pescocostanzo. N.B. At the end of the article you will be able to view a photo gallery with pictures of these two beautiful locations. I took them myself, Carlo, director and owner of Hotel Cirillo.

MIDDLE ROCK.

Belonging to the Sirentina Mountain Community and the headquarters of the Sirente – Velino Regional Natural Park, Rocca di Mezzo is an ancient mountain village in the province of L’Aquila located in the heart of the Altopiano delle Rocche plateau, a karst plateau in the central Apennines characterized by interesting karst phenomena such as sinkholes and caves.

The town, whose foundation dates back to around the year 1000, is divided into three parts, two of which are located on the hill of San Calvario, while the third extends at its foot, on the plateau: the Borgo, the Morge and the lower part. A few kilometers from the town is the famous Campo Felice ski resort, one of the best known and best equipped in central Italy.

Of particular interest is its historic center, which, located on the top of San Calvario, develops within the ancient medieval walls. In the oldest part of the old town are visible the remaining vestiges of the ancient fortified medieval village and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, an ancient church inside which, in one nave, is housed the interesting Museum of Sacred Art “Cardinal Agnifili,” where liturgical furnishings and relics that belonged to Cardinal Agnifili are kept. Also, near the town is the Monumental Cemetery opened in 1898.

PESCOCOSTANZO

Considered one of the historic villages of Abruzzo, Pescocostanzo is a picturesque center of ancient craft tradition that offers a variety of renowned arts and crafts products such as filigree goldsmithing, bobbin lace, wrought iron household items and carved wood. A center of ancient origin and a place of intense civilization, Pescocostanzo lies at the center of a system of karst plateaus, known as the region of the Greater Highlands of Abruzzo, and is among the highest altitude municipalities in Italy.

The village, so rich in art treasures and natural beauty as to appear miraculous, has an extraordinary heritage of Renaissance and Baroque monuments testifying to the extraordinary artistic and cultural events that developed especially between 1440 and 1700.

Highlights include: the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria del Colle, one of the most beautiful monuments in the entire region, inside which the coffered ceiling of the nave and the wooden sculpture depicting the Madonna del Colle are valuable; the Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio dei Morti, which boasts a 17th-century portal and a grand altar carved from walnut wood; the Church of Jesus and Mary, which features fine Baroque marble altars; and Palazzo Grilli, dating from the 16th century.

Absolutely not to be missed is also the Bosco di Sant’Antonio, a kind of monument, both for the beauty of the centuries-old trees and for the numerous historical testimonies preserved, which offers evocative landscapes in every season of the year. A starting point in summer for hiking and horseback riding, in winter it is an ideal place for cross-country skiing.