San Pio delle Camere
Welcome to San Pio delle Camere!
Hello everyone! Today I'm going to talk to you about San Pio delle Camere, a beautiful municipality in Abruzzo with a population of 653 inhabitants. We are located in the Navelli plateau and our position is favorable, as we are on the northern edge of the plateau and in close proximity to the Aquilana basin to the north, with the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif providing a backdrop.
Physical geography
The main characteristic of our village is being located in an almond tree, that is, a rocky area from which closed cavities were obtained in the past that were used to shelter livestock or as food storage. This name probably derives from the synthetic and natural caves in the area, which are called "delle camere" in Italian.
History
Our history is ancient and fascinating, dating back to 1001 when Villa San Pio was donated by the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere to the monastery of Bominaco. In the twelfth century, Castelnuovo (San Pio delle Camere) was born, a fortified village that today has become a hamlet of our municipality. Over the centuries, San Pio was an important resting station for shepherds who traveled the Tratturo Magno, and in 1254 it participated in the foundation of L'Aquila, receiving a local within the district of Santa Maria. Over the years, it was besieged and occupied and passed under the jurisdiction of various influential figures until it gained its autonomy as a municipality.
The Castle of San Pio delle Camere
A place that I absolutely recommend visiting is the Castle of San Pio delle Camere, the most imposing monument of our municipality. Built in the twelfth century, it was destroyed during the war of L'Aquila and was never completely rebuilt. However, its crescent shape still makes it a suggestive sight to behold.
How to reach San Pio delle Camere
If you want to visit our municipality, I recommend taking the State Road 17 of the Abruzzo and Apulian-Sannitic Apennines. If you arrive by train, the nearest station is Sulmona. Once there, you can appreciate the beauty and history of San Pio delle Camere, walk through the streets of the center, chat and get to know our friendly inhabitants.
Events
For those who want to experience San Pio delle Camere in its most festive dimension, I suggest coming to visit us in August, when our festivals take place. The most important one is dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, at the beginning of the month, but don't miss the one dedicated to rattata, a typical dish of the area made of potatoes, breadcrumbs, and pecorino cheese.
Conclusions
Here we are at the end! I hope I have conveyed some of the love we feel for San Pio delle Camere and intrigued you to come and visit us. Here you will find fascinating landscapes, ancient history, warm-hearted inhabitants, and a lot of food and wine culture. We are waiting for you!
