Valle Peligna and Alto Sangro

<< Abruzzo

Valle Peligna is a valley in Abruzzo located west of the Maiella massif, in the Province of L’Aquila. This area, anciently inhabited by a Italic tribe called Paeligni, was once occupied by a large lake. Now it features the historic city of Sulmona, which offers several landmarks. South of Valle Peligna is the mountainous area of Alto Sangro, known for its ski resorts.

Sulmona

Sulmona is a city located in a valley among the mountains of Abruzzo, in the Province of L’Aquila. Founded by the Paeligni, an Italic tribe, Sulmona later became a Roman city and was the birthplace of poet Ovid. During the Middle Ages, Sulmona was a free comune under the Normans, and has been one of the most important centers in area ever since, sharing the history of the rest of the region. The city was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1706, but it was later rebuilt. Now Sulmona is a popular starting point to explore the nearby mountains, and it is famous for the production of confetti, a confectionery made of sugar-coated almonds.

Piazza Garibaldi

Piazza Garibaldi is the main square of Sulmona, adorned with a fountain and surrounded by various landmarks. The main attraction here is a section of the medieval aqueduct built during the 13th century. Other historic buildings facing the square include the Church of San Filippo Neri and the Church of San Francesco della Scarpa. Also facing Piazza Garibaldi is the Monastery of Santa Chiara, which hosts the Diocesan Museum of Sulmona (Museo Diocesano di Sulmona), a museum of local religious art.

Complex of Santissima Annunziata

The Complex of Santissima Annunziata (Complesso della Santissima Annunziata), located in the center of Sulmona, includes a church and a palace originally erected in the Late Middle Ages. While the church was rebuilt in Baroque style during the 18th century, the facade of the palace mostly survived the 1706 earthquake, and features various Renaissance decorations. The palace houses the Civic Museum (Museo Civico), a rich museum of local history hosting several archaeological finds and artworks, and part of an ancient Roman house.

Sulmona Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Panfilo (Cattedrale di San Panfilo)

The Sulmona Cathedral (Duomo di Sulmona) is a church erected in the Late Middle Ages and located at the northwestern edge of Sulmona. The church features a Gothic portal on its facade, while the interior is adorned with Baroque decorations. The medieval crypt of the cathedral houses some artworks and relics.

Confetti Museum

Also known as: Museum of Art and Technology of Confetti (Museo dell’Arte e della Tecnologia Confettiera)

The Confetti Museum (Museo dei Confetti) is a museum dedicated to the popular confectionery that has been produced in Sulmona for centuries. The museum is hosted in a factory just outside Sulmona and showcases the history and production of this confectionery.

Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone

Also known as: Badia Morronese

The Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone (Abbazia di Santo Spirito al Morrone) is an 18th-century monastery built on the site of a previous medieval abbey destroyed by an earthquake in 1706, and located north of Sulmona. Later turned into a prison, now it has been restored. The complex hosts some artworks and ancient frescoes, as well as various Baroque decorations.

Hermitage of Sant’Onofrio al Morrone

The Hermitage of Sant’Onofrio al Morrone (Eremo di Sant’Onofrio al Morrone) is a medieval hermitage located on the side of a mountain north of Sulmona, not far from the Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone. This was the place where Pope Celestine V resided during the 13th century, when he was a monk before becoming pope. The hermitage houses some ancient frescoes and, thanks to its position, it offers a great view on the valley.

Shrine of Hercules Curinus

The Shrine of Hercules Curinus (Santuario di Ercole Curino) is an ancient Italic and later Roman sanctuary located just under the Hermitage of Sant’Onofrio al Morrone. The ruins of the sanctuary feature a few ancient structures, and several archaeological finds unearthed here are hosted in the museums of Abruzzo.

Pacentro

Pacentro is a tiny town located at the foot of the Maiella massif east of Sulmona, in the Province of L’Aquila. The village is known for its medieval old town and historic landmarks.

Caldora Castle of Pacentro

The Caldora Castle is an ancient castle erected in Pacentro during the Late Middle Ages, and the main landmark of the medieval village. The castle features three tall towers and various sections of walls and fortifications now partially demolished.

Roccaraso

Roccaraso is a ski resort located in southern Abruzzo, in the Province of L’Aquila. The small town, founded in the Middle Ages, developed as a ski resort in the 20th century, and now it is one of the most popular winter destinations in the Apennines.

✪ Ski Resort of Roccaraso

Roccaraso is at the center of the Alto Sangro ski area, the largest in Central and Southern Italy. The resort features numerous ski trails and ski lifts on the mountains around Roccaraso, and has hosted numerous international ski competitions. The area is also known for the beauty of its natural environment.

Castel di Sangro

Castel di Sangro is a town in southern Abruzzo, part of the Province of L’Aquila. Inhabited since ancient times, it features a few historic attractions. The town is the main center of the Alto Sangro area, and a tourist destination thanks to its proximity to Roccaraso and the nearby mountains.

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is the main church of Castel di Sangro. Orginally erected in the Middle Ages, the current structure dates from the 18th century, when it was rebuilt in Baroque style. The facade of the church is adorned with various decorations, while inside it hosts a few interesting artworks.

Civitella Alfedena

Civitella Alfedena is a tiny village located among the mountains of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, in the Province of L’Aquila.

Museum of the Apennine Wolf

The Museum of the Apennine Wolf (Museo del Lupo Appenninico) is a museum in Civitella Alfedena dedicated to the flora and fauna of the nearby mountains, especially the wolf of the Apennines. The museum also includes a small wildlife area.