Opi
The medieval village of Opi and its geographic location
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Opi, a beautiful medieval village located in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo. Opi is located in the basin of Alto Sangro, surrounded by the Marsicani mountains. At the center of a mountainous amphitheater, to the northeast is the Marsicano mountain at 2,245 meters, while to the southeast there are the Amaro mountain of Opi at 1,862 meters and the Petroso mountain at 2,249 meters. At the foot of the village are the Asismic Casette village, built after the Marsica earthquake of 1915, and the agro-pastoral village of Pagliare di Opi.
One of the main natural attractions of Opi is the Sangro river, which crosses the municipal area. The river originates from the slopes of the Morrone del Diavolo mountain at 1,602 meters, in the locality of Gioia dei Marsi## Frazioni. After crossing the alluvial plain area known as Le Prata, it enters a gorge between the Opi hill at 1,250 meters and the Marrone mountain at 1,354 meters. The river continues its course along the Alto Sangro mountain community and the Cinquemiglia plateau.
The climate of Opi
The climate of Opi is cold in winter and cool in summer. Thanks to its exposure to western humid currents, it is one of the rainiest inhabited places in Abruzzo, with rainfall that often exceeds 1,500 mm per year. In addition, Opi is one of the places with the lowest average annual temperature in Abruzzo, due to its elevated position.
The origin of the name Opi
The origin of the name Opi is still uncertain. However, the most accredited hypotheses trace the toponym back to the Latin term "ops", meaning agricultural work, or from the Latin name "oppidum", meaning fortified city. Other suggestive etymological hypotheses connect the name of Opi to the Sabine deity Opi, whom the Romans assimilated with the goddess of abundance, or to the Vestal Opice of the Temple of Vesta.
The history of Opi
The territory of the Alto Sangro Mountain Community and the Cinquemiglia plateau has been inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic period, as evidenced by archaeological and zooarchaeological findings carried out between 1870 and 1955 in the caves of the territory by Achille Graziani and Antonio Mario Radmilli.
The first settled populations, who practiced agriculture and animal husbandry, date back at least to the first millennium BC, as evidenced by some ancient necropolises. During the Roman era, Opi was located on the Claudia Nova road, a road that connected Tivoli to Pescara, passing through L'Aquila.
In the Middle Ages, Opi became a fortified village, which lived under the lordship of the Barons Berardi and then the De Sterlich. In 1806, with the suppression of the feudal system, Opi became part of the province of L'Aquila and became an autonomous municipality.
Today, Opi is a beautiful medieval village included in the protected area of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The village has preserved its ancient charm and culture, which have attracted many visitors over the years.
Conclusions
In general, Opi is a delightful place, surrounded by nature and history. If you love the mountains and tranquility, this medieval village is the ideal place to spend a relaxing vacation. Its geographical location, in the middle of the Marsicani mountain range, offers many opportunities for hiking and outdoor activities throughout the year. If you are looking for a magical place to unwind and enjoy the medieval atmosphere, Opi is definitely the place for you!
