The 5 places not to be missed around the Gran Sasso.

Unique panoramas, climbing, places of the spirit...

1. Strada maestra del parco e delle Capannelle: A must see. It is one of the most beautiful streets in Central and South Italy, a border territory between the Gran Sasso massif and the Laga chain that connects the province of L'Aquila with that of Teramo by crossing the famous Passo delle Capannelle. As you go up, the landscape widens with large meadows where herds and flocks graze freely; but the most beautiful stretch is right at the end of the path, up to the Passo delle Capannelle, at 1,300 meters above sea level. The name 'Capannelle' probably derives from the small shepherds' huts located throughout the territory; the pass, in fact, was used by the flocks during the transhumance from the Abruzzo mountains to the Roman plains. Get ready to meet beautiful villages, vineyards and olive groves, historic abbeys and the silent magic of vegetation: the right place for those who want to get away from the chaos of the city. A place dedicated to all those who are looking for a different world: an explosion of colors, flavors and sounds that change to the rhythm of the different seasons and that will leave even the most demanding of visitors speechless.

2. Castel del Monte: This ancient village is known for its stone houses and its charming old town.. The apulian castle is a UNESCO heritage, Castel del Monte is a small perched village, which has always been a symbol of transhumance, which enchants with the beauty and majesty of the landscape that surrounds it. The deep-rooted rural tradition still revives every August 17, the Night of the Witches, a very lively belief in the village especially among the elderly, in which the suggestive rite of the seven sports (archs) is retraced with an itinerant show through narrow alleys and alleys, to give life to an ancient cult performed by women to ward off the witches Here too, you will not be able to refrain from tasting the famous local canestrato (cheese) with an intense flavor, reminiscent of the scent of the meadows. Tasting it is like going back in time and protecting its memory is a must. You can visit the Castello del Monte, an ancient fortress overlooking the village.

3. Gole del Salinello: This spectacular gorge, excavated by the Salinello River, offers a unique scenery. Walking the trails between the high rock walls is an exciting experience. The Salinello Gorges are located within the Gran Sasso National Park and the Laga Mountains. This wonderful green area became in 1990 a protected nature reserve, formed by a part by the suggestive rock walls of the canyon, with several waterfalls of fresh and crystal clear water and the presence of a rich and varied vegetation, with beech trees, stone trees, oak trees, alpine stars and mountain orchids. The Gorges were created over the centuries thanks to the flow of the river that smoothed the rock, shaping it thanks to its power. The canyon is located, specifically, between the so-called Gemini Mountains, that is the Mountain of Flowers with its highest peak, Mount Girella and the Mountain of Campli with its most imposing peak, Mount Foltrone. The main path for trekking is the one that starts from Ripe di Civitella and reaches the waterfalls, with a vertical drop of about 150 meters and a total distance of 7 kilometers between round trip. The route is smooth, also suitable for children and pets and is widely signposted. In addition to trekking, at the Salinello Gorges, it is also possible to prepare a barbecue in the equipped picnic areas that are located along the route, allowing yourself a relaxing break in the nature reserve. There are many activities that can be carried out during a visit to the Salinello Gorges. Almost all visitors taking advantage of this atmospheric natural paradise for a leisurely hike to the waterfalls. Fans of history and archaeology can opt for a visit to the ancient Here and the cave of Sant'Angelo: a massive cavity that dates back to prehistoric times and inside which important historical finds have been found. Other places to visit near the Salinello Gorges are the Hemore of Santa Maria Scalena and the Castel Manfrino Ruins. In the Abruzzo nature reserve there is also room for the most extreme and demanding activities. In fact, it is also possible to climb along the walls of the gorge, of course under the supervision of the experienced and authorized staff who work at the Gorges. In the summer and for those who do not fear the freezing temperatures of the river, it is also possible to take a refreshing and regenerating dip in the clear and crystal clear waters of the stream that laps the rocks of the canyon.

4. Santuario di San Gabriele dell'Addolorata: Located in Isola del Gran Sasso, the sanctuary is a place of great spirituality and fascinating architecture. It also offers a panoramic view of the surrounding valley. The sanctuary of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, at the foot of the Gran Sasso, in the province of Teramo, is among the best known in Italy and Europe. A recent ranking places it among the top fifteen most visited shrines in the world. Two million pilgrims come there every year to pray on the tomb of the young passionate student San Gabriele dell'Addolorata. His fame knows no bounds. There are at least a thousand churches dedicated to him on various continents. A motorway exit, bridges, viaducts, squares, parking lots, roads, schools, hospitals are named after him. Thousands of people in the world are named Gabriele or Gabriella in his honor. A saint who attracts millions of pilgrims every year, fascinated by his life and recalled by the numerous miracles that God continues to work through his intercession. The sanctuary dedicated to the young saint has become, in recent decades, one of the most unique phenomena of popular religiosity in Italy at the end of the millennium. The fame of the saint of miracles is based on an uninterrupted series of supernatural facts, witnessed by thousands of former vows given to the sanctuary. Drawn in the splendid postcard starring the Gran Sasso, it is a place of worship famous all over the world and is visited every year by 2 million faithful, including many young people. Here are preserved the remains of St. Gabriel, Patron Saint of Abruzzo, of whom there are many testimonies of miracles of healing that occurred thanks to his intercession. The Sanctuary of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata is located in Isola del Gran Sasso which, in turn, is part of the National Park, thus offering not only the opportunity to visit an important place for religious sentiment, but also to appreciate the beautiful panorama of the surrounding landscape. The origins of the Sanctuary as we know it refer to a small church dedicated to the Annunciation next to which in the year following the visit of St. Francis, in 1215, a small Franciscan convent was built that in 1847 was donated to the Passionists, the Order of St. Gabriel. Alongside this historic building, enriched and expanded over time, a modern one has been added, of such structure and grandeur that it can comfortably accommodate the enormous flow of pilgrims and faithful who arrive every year. In the new church in summer there are the remains of the Saint who throughout the year are preserved in the historical one, inside a metal statue laid in a gilded bronze urn. During the visit to the Sanctuary, in addition to the moment dedicated to recollection and prayer, you have the opportunity to know the places of the convent in which the Saint lived and to observe, through a stained glass window, the room in which he died, very young, in 1862.

5. Fortezza di Civitella del Tronto: The Fortress of Civitella del Tronto is one of the most monumental and impressive works of military engineering ever made in Italy and with its over 500 meters of length and 25,000 square meters of surface. The importance of Civitella lay in the decision taken, around the end of the thirteenth century, by the Angevins - rulers of Southern Italy - and by the papains, to position here the border between the Kingdom of Naples and the Papal State. This position, combined with the harsh nature of the territory, made the country over time, one of the most strategically important points for the control of the borders and northern customs. The Fort, built on a rocky spur of travertine, dominates the valley of Salinello, on the ancient border between the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In the Renaissance it presented itself as a typical fortified citadel with five towers, mighty walls with patrol walkways and two bastions to protect the Twencentury Oriental Gate on the Knight's Square. Despite recent restoration works, the typical characters of the Spanish fortress are still perfectly visible, with a long ramp reaching the citadel, the Governor's Palace of 1574, the church of S. Giacomo, from 1604, and around the housing for the military, warehouses and tanks. On the eastern side the large Piazza d'Armi and the quartering of the French troops with a typical square plan. There are many military episodes that have seen Civitella as the protagonist, but what has gone down in history is the unfortunate defense sustained against the Piedmontese of Vittorio Emanuele II, prosthetic to the achievement of the unification of Italy; the garrison surrendered only on March 20, 1861, after the first National Parliament was inaugurated in Turin, 3 days earlier. Also to erase the historical memory of our country, the Savoy army began the work of dismantling the structure which, abandoned for more than 100 years, has returned to light after long restoration work, begun in the seventies and completed in 1983, under the supervision of the BAASS dell'Aquila Superintendence. The Fortress, now equipped with a modern and efficient visitation system, houses the Weapons Museum. From 16 July to 10 September it is possible to book the ' wild visits with the falconiere', (www.fortezzadicivitella.it) the falconers Giovanni Granati and Athena Jitariuc are waiting to accompany you to discover the art of falconry, with their team of Czechoslovak birds of prey and wolves, and the historical and architectural