This post was made in collaboration with @daphnephotographer, Abruzzo Smart Ambassador, who kindly provided all the pictures.
The most beautiful villages of Italy in Teramo
Teramo is one of the 4 main cities that belong to Abruzzo. It is located towards the north of the region, between the highest peak of the Apennines, the Gran Sasso and the Adriatic Sea. From the city centre, it is possible to connect in a relatively short time with the beaches of the coast and with the mountainous areas that surround the Gran Sasso.
There are more than 40 towns that are under the jurisdiction of the city of Teramo, and 4 of them belong to the club of “The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”, an association founded in 2001 with the main purpose of valuing the immense patrimony of the small municipalities of the country.
These 4 municipalities are Campli, Castelli, Civitella del Tronto and Pietracamela and all of them are within the territory of the “Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga”.
Campli
The small town of Campli still preserves its medieval mercantile aspect, especially in the historic centre where the House of the Pharmacist, the House of the Doctor and the Palace of the Parliament also known as the Farnese Palace and considered the oldest civic building in Abruzzo stand out.
In the year 1772, Campli obtained the privilege of erecting the “Santuario della Scala Santa”, one of the most interesting and striking places of worship in the entire country. The sanctuary represents the staircase walked by Jesus to enter the room where he would have been interrogated by Pontius Pilate before being crucified. The sanctuary is made up of 28 steps that symbolize the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, and for those who wish to obtain the Plenary Indulgence with the same value as the Holy Stairs in Rome, these 28 steps must be climbed on their knees. This Sanctuary is also adorned with frescoes by the Teramanian artist Vincenzo Baldati.
Campli is not only the town of places of worship and ancient civil buildings, it is also the site of the oldest gastronomic festival in Abruzzo, known as the “Sagra della Porchetta Italica” and takes place the week after the Ferragosto festival. Since 1964, the award for the best porchetta of the year has been awarded. The authenticity of porchetta italica rests in the cooking and in the seasoning of the meat.
La Casa del Medico e dello Speziale. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Portici del Palazzo Farnese. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Cripta della Chiesa di Santa Maria in Platea. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
La Scala Santa. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Campli. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Castelli
The town of Castelli is considered a starting point for many excursions including the top of Mount Camicia (2750 m), the second-highest in the entire Apennines chain and the Campo Imperatore plain, also known as the “Little Tibet”.
Castelli is also known for its fabulous ceramics known as “Maiolica”. Of particular interest, the Church of San Donato was classified as the “Sistine Chapel of the Maiolica”, precisely because of its Maiolica ceiling made between 1615 and 1617. For art lovers, the Museum of Ceramics located in the Convent of “Frati Minori Osservanti, is undoubtedly a must-see attraction.
In addition to its Ceramics, Castelli is also recognized for its tasty meats. It is not a case that the porchetta stands out in addition to the turkey alla canzanese.
Bottega Ceramiche Pina Fazzini. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Castelli e il Monte Camicia. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Chiesa di S. Rocco. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Chiesa di San Donato e il soffitto di maioliche. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Dal belvedere. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto is perhaps one of the most interesting towns in the entire region. This small town of just over 5,000 inhabitants is home to some of the most fascinating places in all Abruzzo.
Its fortress, the Fortress of Civitella del Tronto, is one of the largest works of military engineering in all Europe. It is located 600 meters above sea level and has an area of around 25 thousand square meters. Guided tours of the fortress have a cost 10 euros and also include the entry to the Nina Museum, a museum that tells the history of Civitella del Tronto through the customs of noble families.
Civitella del Tronto is also the town of the narrowest street in all Italy, known as “ruetta d’italia la via più stretta”. It is wide only 66 centimetres and in past times, the construction of this type of street was common. They were built with the aim of slowing down the pace of possible invaders to be able to attack them. However, for some, the narrowest street in Italy is “la buscella” located in Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Other places of interest include the “Collegiata di San Lorenzo” and the “Franciscus Filippi Pepe” square from which it is possible to admire a wonderful panorama of the region with the Gran Sasso that can be admired in the distance.
Civitella del Tronto is also known for being a true festival of flavours. Products such as sausages, black truffles, olive oil, potatoes, cakes, among others, stand out.
Ruetta d'Italia - La via più stretta. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Piazza Franciscus Filippi Pepe. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Civitella del Tronto. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Pietracamela
Pietracamela is one of those places that seems to be suspended in time. Many of its inhabitants have decided to no longer live there, and there are no great places of worship and monuments that can be admired. However, the beauty of Pietracamela rests in simpler elements that tend to go unnoticed such as its clean and comforting air, its narrow streets that still retain their original structure, the wonderful view it offers of the Gran Sasso and the tranquillity that reigns among its walls. It is undoubtedly the ideal place to disconnect from the routine and restore the spirit, mind and body.
Pietracamela is also the starting point for many excursions that include trekking, mountain biking and mountaineering. Some of the trails that can be travelled from this town are the trails that lead to the sources of the Arno River, the Madonnina del Gran Sasso, the Franchetti Refuge and the Prati de Tivo ski resort.
Tra le vie di Pietracamela. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
Tra le vie di Pietracamela. Photo credit: @daphnephotographer
