Opi (AQ)

2017

Opi (Opjë IPA: [ˈopjə], in Opian dialect) is a town of about 408 inhabitants in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo. Its medieval village is included in the protected area of the national park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The town is located in the middle of the mountainous group of the Marsicani Mountains, in the center of a mountainous amphitheater formed to the north-east by Monte Marsicano (2,245 m asl) and to the south-east by Monte Amaro (1,862 m) and Monte Petroso (2,249 m asl) . The main watercourse that crosses the municipal territory is the Sangro river that rises on the slopes of Mount Morrone del Diavolo (1,602 m a.s.l.), in the locality of Gioia Vecchio di Gioia dei Marsi. The Sangro, after crossing a flat area called Le Prata, enters a gorge between the Opi hill (1,250 m a.s.l.) and Monte Marrone (1,354 m a.s.l.) from where it continues its path along the upper Sangro valley. The Fondillo stream, one of the first tributaries of the Sangro river, which gives its name to the valley of the same name, arises from one of the numerous karst springs present in the Opiano territory. The rugged nature of the wooded mountains has allowed the survival of a rich and varied fauna.

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Scanno (Scannë in Abruzzo) is an Italian town of 1 883 inhabitants located in the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. The municipal territory, surrounded by the Marsicani Mountains, is partly included within the borders of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise and is in turn part of the Peligna mountain community. It is an important winter and summer resort and is part of the club The most beautiful villages in Italy. In the surroundings there are the homonymous lake, which however belongs for three quarters to the municipality of Villalago, the ski resorts of Passo Godi and Monte Rotondo, the plateaus of Monte Greco and Lake Pantaniello, as well as the natural reserve of the Sagittario Gorges. Scanno is also known as the City of Photographers; a place much appreciated by many Italian and foreign authors. Throughout the twentieth century, its unmistakable views and its people were the subjects of many famous shots taken by Hilde Lotz-Bauer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli, Renzo Tortelli, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Ferdinando Scianna, Mario Cresci and many others . In 1964 it was a photograph taken in Scanno by Mario Giacomelli that became part of the prestigious collection of photographic works of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This image is known as The Scanno Boy, or Scanno Boy.

Fossacesia. Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere

It is a Christian monastic complex located in the municipality of Fossacesia, on a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The complex is made up of a basilica and the nearby convent.

Palena, Church of San Falco and Sant'Antonino

Parish church of the town, it was built in the 12th century, after the earthquake of 1706, it was built again, however maintaining the 14th century bell tower

Rocca Calascio (AQ)

Rocca Calascio is a fortress located in Abruzzo, in the province of L'Aquila, in the territory of the municipality of Calascio, at an altitude of 1450 meters above sea level, just above the town. It is included in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. It is known for the presence of the castle, one of the highest in Italy, and the ancient medieval village below, still inhabited by some inhabitants. The Rocca is considered one of the symbols of Abruzzo. The foundation of the fortress is probably due to the will of King Ruggero d'Altavilla after the Norman conquest of 1140 with a prevalent sighting function, even if the first historical document attesting its presence is dated 1239. It was part of Calascio, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Carapelle Calvisio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio of the famous Barony of Carapelle, whose historical events he followed until 1806, the year of the abolition of feudality. Over the centuries, the Pagliara, Plessis, Colonna, Celano, Caldora, Accrocciamuro, Todeschini Piccolomini, Del Pezzo, Cattaneo, Medici and Bourbon families followed one another in the domain. In particular, in 1463 it was granted by King Ferdinand to Antonio Todeschini of the Piccolomini family who modified the fortification by equipping it with a pebble wall and four cylindrical towers for military use, with a Ghibelline battlements. In 1703 it was devastated by a violent earthquake following which the highest area of the village was abandoned and a large part of the population moved to the nearby town of Calascio. In the twentieth century, even the last remaining families left the village and the fortress remained uninhabited. At the end of the century, however, also in the wake of the success deriving from the setting of some films (above all Lady Hawke of 1985 and The Name of the Rose of 1986), some houses were recovered and others were converted to accommodation facilities; Furthermore, the castle has undergone an important restoration and consolidation operation and is now one of the main tourist attractions in the area, thanks to the work of two spouses and their family who have opened a widespread hotel just below the castle.

Albe, Massa d’Albe. The church of San Pietro in Albe

The church of San Pietro in Albe stands on the hill of San Pietro, one of the three hills surrounding Alba Fucens, the Roman city founded in 304 BC at the foot of Mount Velino.

Celano and the Fucino Plain

Celano is a splendid town in Abruzzo, overlooking the Fucino plain, composed of a medieval village which in the upper part still preserves the Castle dating back to the 14th century.

Celano. Church of San Michele Arcangelo

The construction of the Church of San Michele Arcangelo dates back to the 14th century. At the end of the 14th century the Counts of Celano donated it to the congregation of the Celestine monks

P.N.A.L.M. - Part III

The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise is a national park including for the most part (about 3/4) in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo and for the remainder in that of Frosinone in Lazio and in that of Isernia in Molise. It was inaugurated on 9 September 1922 in Pescasseroli, the current headquarters and central management of the park, while the body of the same name had already been established on 25 November 1921 with a provisional directorate. Its establishment took place officially with the Royal decree-law of 11 January 1923.

Isola del G. Sasso d’I. San G. dell'Addolorata

The sanctuary of S. Gabriele dell'Addolorata is a sanctuary of the Catholic Church located at the foot of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, in the municipality of Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia.

Abruzzo, Italy. Spectacular landscapes

Abruzzo is an Italian region located east of Rome, between the Adriatic and the Apennines. The hinterland is mostly made up of national parks and nature reserves. The region also includes medieval and Renaissance villages perched on the hills. The regional capital, L'Aquila, is a city surrounded by walls, damaged by the earthquake of 2009. The Costa dei Trabocchi, with its sandy coves, takes its name from the traditional fishing jetties.

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