Castel del Monte
Travel to Castel del Monte
Hello everyone! Today I am going to talk to you about Castel del Monte, a beautiful village in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy. With its 445 inhabitants, Castel del Monte is a small municipality located at the foot of the Gran Sasso massif, in a panoramic position overlooking the Tirino valley.
Discover the physical geography
The village of Castel del Monte is located at an altitude of over 1346 meters above sea level, along the southern slopes of Mount Bolza with a territory that reaches the southern part of Campo Imperatore. This municipality is part of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park and is considered an important tourist destination, in fact, it is part of the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
The accessibility to the village is excellent: it can be reached from the Strada statale 17 dell'Appennino Abruzzese e Appulo Sannitica turning near Barisciano or, alternatively, San Pio delle Camere or from Ofena-Capestrano. A section of the great Gran Sasso Equestrian Trail passes through here.
The climate in Castel del Monte
The climate in Castel del Monte is cool and mild. Thanks to its high position, the village enjoys a breeze that makes it pleasant during the summer. In winter, on the other hand, temperatures can drop but the village is made even more fascinating by the snow that covers it.
The history of Castel del Monte
The first traces of an ancient settlement of Vestine origin are on Colle della Battaglia, south of the village, where the traces of three circular and concentric ditches and as many walls protecting a village are still visible. In 324 B.C. The Consul Bruto Decio Sceva subjugated the Vestines destroying the village. Subsequently, a new settlement was built in the underlying plain of S. Marco where the remains of a small medieval village and an ancient church dedicated to S. Marco, seat of an abbey until 1619, can still be seen. During the Lombard invasion, the inhabitants decided to castle themselves by building a fortress or fortified village called 'Ricetto', which is the oldest part of Castel del Monte. Among the attractions of the village is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, an ancient church dating back to the 12th century, which is one of the landmarks of the town.
What to do in Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte is an ancient village that is worth a visit! A walk through the streets of the historic center will offer you very beautiful views. You can then visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista or admire the panorama from Piazza del Mastro giardiniere, a small green space located in the middle of the village.
Near the village, there are also two very beautiful naturalistic paths: the Casale path and the River path. The Casale path will take you to the Casale di Santa Maria, a stone building dating back to the year one thousand, surrounded by a beautiful green landscape. The River path, on the other hand, will take you to discover lakes and waterfalls along the Tirino River.
Finally, if you have the opportunity, I recommend visiting Castel del Monte and spending a few hours of your day getting lost in its streets and discovering the beauties that this village hides. We are sure you won't regret it!
