Park Municipalities
Province of Pescara
ABBATEGGIO
This village has been built on the edges of wonderful woods of beech and
downy oaks. Abbateggio is on the left side of Lavino river, an extraordinary
location that overlooks most of the Pescara and Chieti provinces.
Since its typical stone houses it is also known as the “ Crib Village”. The
15th Century Chruch of “Madonna dell'Elcina” - its name derives from a
tradition about an apparition of The Virgin Mary above an Ilex (Elce) -
rises on a rocky hill overlooking all the valley. Don’t Miss: Church of S.
Lorenzo and “Palazzo Simone”.
Town Hall (+39) 085/8574223
BOLOGNANO
The village, placed on heights along the Orta Valley, boasts Roman origins:
very interesting evidences have been discovered in the localities of Santa
Liberata and Sant'Anzino. You absolutely have to visit its typical old town
centre and the Medieval Church of S. Maria Entroterra with its XVIth Century
façade: inside it can be found the "Madonna col bambino" (Virgin with His
Son), fresco painting attribuited to Paolo Cardone from l’Aquila.
Its territory encompasses part of Orta Natural Reserve and, in particular,
the “Grotta dei Piccioni” (Pigeons Cave) inside of which were carried out
archaeological findings dating back to prehistorical populations.
Town Hall (+39) 085/8880132
CARAMANICO TERME
Pictureque whistle-stop placed on a spur above the confluence between the
Orfento and the Orta. Caramanico Terme knew its longest development period
during the XIVth and XVth Centuries, when it was fief of “d'Aquino”. From
the end of XIXth Century, its mineral water changed it into a famous health
spa. Its territory includes the Natural Reserve of Orfento Valley. Don’t
Miss: the Park visitor center, “La casa del Lupo” (Wolf House); the
Faunistic Area of Otter and the Church of “S. Maria Maggiore”.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/9290202.
LETTOMANOPPELLO
Located close to North-Eastern ramification of Majella massif and enrichened
by the wonderful view of “Gran Sasso”, Lettomanoppello expands on a
territory full of forms of underground erosion such as the “Grotte delle
Praie”. It is featured by several natural settings made of stalactites and
stalagmites and divided in two axis of galleries: it is hard to visit that
one on the right side (flat on the back), while the other is wide and
comfortable with a seductive scenario rich in stalactitic concretions. Don’t
Miss: Grotta di Sant'Angelo (Cave), rocky place of cult; the Church of
Iconicella (Small Icon), Fosso Sant'Angelo (Ditch) and Fonte del Papa (Pope’s
Fountain).
Town Hall: (+39) 085/8570134
MANOPPELLO
The pretty whistle-stop of Manoppello expands between the Majella layers and
on the right side of Pescara river. The village overlooks, from its Eastern
side, the wide plain below until to the sea.
The Sanctuary of “Volto Santo” (Holy Face) is regarded as one the major and
most frequented holy places in Abruzzo; the image of “Volto Santo” can be
considered as the most precious relic of our Region.
The building of Sanctuary is connected with the gift of “Sacro Velo” (Sacred
Veil), portraying the aching Jesus Face, to Capuchin Fathers made by a
certain De Fabritiis.
Don’t Miss: the Church of San Nicola, the XIVth Century portale of which is
attributed to Theatine School; the Church of San Pancrazio, Piazza Portici
and S. Maria d'Arabona.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/8590003
POPOLI
Its territory is featured by several mountains that enclose the plain the
built-up are expands. This zone ends with a sort of tunnel - “Gola di
Tremonti”, riverbed of Pescara river – where two massives meet: Gran Sasso
and Majella. The striking ruins of medioeval castle overlook the dwellings.
Popoli preserved important architectural evidences dating back to its noble
past, when the powerful Family of “Cantelmo” was living there. The most
striking one is “Taverna Ducale”(Duke’s Tavern): built in the XIVth Century
and regarded as one of the most interesting medioeval buildings in Abruzzo,
with its wonderful façade enrichened with armorial bearigns and bas-relief.
Its territory is full of remarkable natural elements, among which “Sorgenti
di Capo Pescara” (Pescara River Springs) that became Regional Reserve.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/98701
ROCCAMORICE
Roccamorice is located on a rocky spur between Lavino and Lannella torrents.
The Parish Church and the other near one are very interesting: the last one
has been built encompassing the tower of a fortified structure no more
existant. In its territory there are the most striking retreats in the
Region.
Don’t Miss: the Abbey of “Santo Spirito a Majella”; the “Sfrattone” Cave, a
sole big cavity divided in two parts by a diagram; the “San Bartolomeo”
Cave, a natural refuge inside of which were applied articulate building
structures with polychrome paintings, a wooden statue and a holy spring; the
Transhumance paths, visiting the "tholos" (shepherd huts that look like
typical sardinian stone buildings called “Nuraghe”); the “San Bartolomeo in
Legio” retreat that stands in the most dry zone of gorge, under a natural
rocky roof; the “Parete dell'Orso” (Bear Face) a large and vertical rocky
face, main destination for free-climbing lovers.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/8572358
SALLE
From the beginning, Salle was a fortified castle with towers and town walls.
The castle became a civic museum for the conservation of collections,
furnitures and the di Genova Family’s objects. Worthy of mention is the
picture gallery with works of abruzzi painters inside and collections of
weapons and suits of armour.
Today, from the old town centre only the castle remains while the new
built-up area has been shifted lower. The centre is famous for its armonic
strings makers.
Town Hall: (+39) 082 928138
SANT'EUFEMIA A MAJELLA
The village is located in the middle of Mount Rapina, between Majella and
Morrone, territory rich of pastures. Its highest peaks, except of Mount
Amaro, are Mount Pesco Falcone and Rapina.
Don’t Miss: "Daniela Brescia" Botanic Garden. The Caves: Lucidi, delle
Femmine, dei Briganti and Zappano; the Parish Church devoted to San
Bartolomeo Apostle, with a nave and two aisles flanked by a bell-tower built
in the XVIth Century; the picturesque village of Roccacaramanico and the
Botanic Garden, just 1 Km from the town.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/920116
SAN VALENTINO IN ABRUZZO CITERIORE
Located on hills between the Orta river and the Lavino torrent, this
whistle-stop still preserves remarkable ruins of the structures that
composed, in the Middle Ages, its fortified village. Don’t Miss: Palazzo
Conti of S. Valentino, the parish Church built in the XVIIIth Century and
designed by the famous architect Luigi Vanvitelli. Inside there is an
elegant stucco decoration created by Alessandro Terzani from Como in the
last decade of the century; its stony façade, the caves of "De li callarelli",
"contrada Riparo" and the cavern of "fonte Iovere" with rocky inscriptions.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/874131
SERRAMONACESCA
This village is at the foot of Mount Piano di Tarocca, close to the Alento
river, among woods and olive tree groves. Outside the built-up area it can
be found one of the most important medioeval Church in Abruzzo: S.
Liberatore alla Majella, once part of a big abbatial compound. Through its
beautiful Roman portals in the façade, flanked by an imposing bell-tower:
the church has a nave with two aisles and conserves the ruins of precious
XIIIth Century floor “in opus sectile”; the XIIth Century Amobone; fragments
of medioeval frescoes in the main apse, discovered under other ones dating
back to the Renaissance afterwards shifted on panels.
Don’t Miss: the rocky retreat of S. Onofrio and the Alento river Springs.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/859126
TOCCO DA CASAURIA
Homeland of painter Francesco Paolo Michetti, Tocco da Casauria is located
on a plateau that seems like an amphitheater and extends at foot of Mount
Morrone. At just 2Km from the village a wonderful wood of old oaks
surrounding the Osservanza cloister. The climb of Mount Rotondo starts here
through a path; from the mount summit the eye overlooks a superb landscape:
it can be sight the Pescara Valley and all the villages on both riversides,
while, in the clean and sunny days, it can also be seen the Adriatic Sea.
Don’t Miss: the Tufo Rotondo refuge, Grotta del Pipistrello (Bat Cave),
Valle lupo (Wolf Valley), the castle in the highest zone of town; the Chruch
of Sant'Eustachio, the fountain in Contrada Frantoli and Porta della Croce.
Town Hall: (+39) 085/880533
