The fortress of Civitella del Tronto
The fortress of Civitella del Tronto is one of the most imposing military engineering works in Italy: it stretches for over five hundred meters along a rocky ridge. Its illustrious history is closely tied to its strategic position as a stronghold guarding the northern borders of the various Neapolitan Kingdoms for centuries. The fortress and its connected village endured several sieges, but it is best remembered for the ill-fated defense against the Piedmontese Sardinian army in 1860/61, which ended with surrender on March 20, 1861, making it the last Bourbon stronghold to yield to the nascent Italian state.
Campli, a veritable city of art.
Campli is situated on a hill between the valleys of the Fiumicino and Siccagno streams. Rich in architectural monuments that define it as a true city of art, Campli is home to a section of the National Archaeological Museum that houses the remains of the Campovalano Necropolis. A beautiful example of medieval architecture is the Parliamentary Palace, later transformed into the Farnese Palace, located opposite the 13th-century Cathedral of S. Maria in Platea, which features a Romanesque bell tower. Also famous is the Holy Staircase, so named because after 1776 it became customary to grant indulgences to those who climbed it on their knees.
Salinello gorges: history, culture, and nature.
Not far from Civitella del Tronto, you can explore the Salinello Gorges. A natural environment that combines history, culture, and nature between the two slopes of the Twin Mountains: Montagna di Campli and Montagna dei Fiori. Over millions of years , The Salinello River has carved out a "gorge" several kilometers long, about 200 meters high, and varying in width from just a few meters to tens of meters, creating waterfalls, caves, and caverns, shaping this natural monument.
The city of Teramo with its ancient origins
The city of Teramo has very ancient origins. It was the capital of Praetotium, the name given to the surrounding territory under Roman rule. During the golden period under Emperors Augustus and Hadrian, it boasted thermal baths, a theater, an amphitheater, and other monuments now submerged beneath the modern city. In the 1400s, it was torn apart by conflicts among the Melatini, Antonelli, Spennati, and Mazzaclocchi families. It later came under Francesco Sforza and Alfonso of Aragon. From 1798 to 1815, it was under French rule, then passed to the Spanish, following the historical fortunes of the southern regions.
Sanctuary of S. Gabriele
Abruzzo's religious fervour has manifested through the ages in several grand sanctuaries. The first, where over two million faithful gathers annually, lies at the foot of the Gran Sasso mountains and is dedicated to a young Passionist saint named Francesco Possenti, known as San Gabriele dell’Addolorata. San Gabriele's fame surged in 1892 when his mortal remains were exhumed, and miraculous events began occurring at his tomb. He was canonised in 1920, and in 1959 Pope John XXIII declared him the patron saint of Abruzzo and young students.
Castelli, one of the most important craft destinations
Located just below the peaks of Mount Camicia, Castelli is one of Abruzzo's premier tourist destinations. It is renowned for its master ceramicists who served the kings of Naples and the princely houses of Rome. Known especially for its artisan workshops, Castelli has been dubbed the "city of ceramics," owing its fame to this art form dating back to the 13th century. Since then, this fine art has been handed down from generation to generation in this small yet distinctive village at the foot of the Gran Sasso.
Gran Sasso National Park: one of Europe's largest and most precious protected areas
Abruzzo harbours one of Europe's largest and most precious protected areas, the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Here, millennia of human activity have harmoniously integrated into a superb environmental context, further enriching it. This natural reserve boasts forests, springs, waterfalls, meadows, plateaus, vertiginous ridges, and rocky mountain walls inhabited by numerous exclusive fauna and floral species, alongside the most iconic animals of the Apennines such as wolves, Abruzzo chamois, bears, golden eagles, and bearded vultures. The park’s territory constitutes a "European monument to biodiversity".
