Manoppello. The Holy Face

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.

The church of San Bernardino is located at the end of the homonymous and scenic staircase, in the historic center of L'Aquila, about 600 m from the Spanish Fort. The construction of a church that worthily guarded the remains of San Bernardino da Siena (1380-1444) - the persuasive preacher of the Order of the Friars Minor who died in L'Aquila and proclaimed a saint in 1450 - was strongly desired by the influential friar Giovanni da Capistrano. At first the conventual friars opposed the construction of the church, however the works were started and completed between 1454 and 1472. The earthquake of 1703 seriously damaged the church, which was renovated according to the stylistic and architectural methods of the time. In 1946, at the behest of Pope Pius XII, the church received the honorary title of minor basilica.

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.

The Cathedral Basilica dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle was built on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Destroyed by the Normans in 1060, it was rebuilt.

The church of Santa Maria di Propezzano is a Romanesque-style Catholic place of worship in Abruzzo located in the Vomano valley, in the municipality of Morro d'Oro, in the province of Teramo.

Borrello, Chieti, Abruzzo. The Regional Nature Reserve and the WWF OASIS Cascate del Verde. It is a protected natural area of Abruzzo, established in 2001, which covers an area of approximately 287 hectares.

La Camosciara is an extensive nature reserve with trails for experienced hikers and beginners, suggestive views and wildlife. It is an integral part of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

The Orfento Valley is undoubtedly one of the most evocative places in the Maiella National Park: the clear water, the small waterfalls, the sound of the river and nature make the walk a unique experience. The trail begins with a wide view of the gorge from above and then descends into the lush river vegetation with intense and wonderful colors. The route is made even more evocative by a continuous succession of small clearings, waterfalls, and wooden bridges that repeatedly cross the river. The Orfento Gorge was the reserve where, in the 1980s, deer and roe deer were reintroduced for the first time, now present throughout the Maiella National Park. The world's leading scientific journal, Nature, has used this valley as a global example of its rich biodiversity. Nearby are ancient hermitages, silent guardians of faith and time, such as the hermitage of San Giovanni all'Orfento. These sacred places, nestled in the rock and surrounded by greenery, were a refuge for saints and hermits, including Pope Celestine V, who found spirituality and solitude in these valleys. Their echoes still resonate through the woods and gorges, giving those who walk there a sense of profound peace and connection with something eternal. An ancestral call that transforms the valley into a true natural sanctuary for the soul. Woods and mountains are natural medicine. Walking in nature helps us combat many ailments linked to a hectic and stressful lifestyle. Our simple walks are a way to get closer to nature, while also providing educational insights into the wonders of Abruzzo.

Barrea is located in a mountainous area overlooking the Sangro Valley and the Barrea Lake. The inhabited center, located at an altitude of 1,060 m a.s.l., occupies a ledge at the eastern end of the lake enclosed by the steep sides of the Meta mountains to the south and Mount Greco to the north. Its territory is included in the national park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. The lake was formed in 1951 by the damming of the Sangro river and is used for the production of electricity. The Wetland of Lake Barrea, managed by the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park Authority, has been on the list of areas provided for by the Ramsar Convention since 1976.

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.