Castelli
Welcome to Castelli: an immersive experience in the Abruzzo nature
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Castelli, a municipality in the province of Teramo in Abruzzo. Here you can enjoy a true immersive experience in nature, thanks to its location at the south-eastern foothills of Gran Sasso d'Italia and its belonging to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga.
Discovering the physical geography of Castelli: among mountains and natural wonders
Immersed in the mountain landscape, one of the main attractions of Castelli is the gateway to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga. For example, by going up to Rigopiano, you can reach the southern part of Campo Imperatore pass through "Vado di Sole" and enjoy a very suggestive naturalistic path. In this path, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the north-eastern wall of Monte Camicia and the underlying dense wooded area. And if you are a trekking enthusiast, the great Ippovia del Gran Sasso awaits you for a full immersion in the Abruzzo nature.
The history of Castelli: art, culture, and traditions of the past
The village of Castelli has a very ancient history. In the 15th century, it followed the events of the other centers of the Valle Siciliana and is linked to the Duchy of Atri, as also demonstrated by a fresco by Andrea De Litio in the parish church of San Rocco. But what made Castelli famous in the 16th century was the start of ceramics production. In fact, the village was completely rebuilt with Baroque and Renaissance palaces after a violent earthquake of that era.
With the decline of Rome in the 5th century AD, the inhabitants of the valley grouped together in fortified castra, called "Li Castelli," from which the current toponym derives. And it was thanks to the Benedictine presence in the Vomano valley that the people of Castelli learned the techniques of clay processing. Soon the agro-pastoral society became entrepreneurial, and knowing how to commercialize clay products, Castelli became one of the main centers of the region.
During the Spanish conquest of the Kingdom of Naples (16th century), Castelli was enfeoffed to Francesco Riccardi from Ortona, then went to the Petrucci, and to the Orsini in the early 1500s. It was one of the last fiefs of Camillo Pardo Orsini, Count of Manoppello, who fell into disgrace with the Aragonese.
Living Castelli: local cuisine and traditions of the present
But Castelli is not just history and nature. There are also traditions and modern pleasures of life to discover. For example, you can taste the local cuisine at one of the many restaurants in the area, where you will find typical dishes of the Abruzzo tradition. But Castelli is also famous for the production of robust and intense wines, which you can taste in the historic center or buy to take away a bit of Abruzzo.
In short, Castelli is a place that will offer you a rich and varied immersive experience in the Abruzzo nature, history, culture, and traditions of the past and present. I invite you to visit the village and discover all its hidden treasures!
