Sella di Corno
Welcome to Sella di Corno
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about Sella di Corno, a hamlet of the Municipality of Scoppito located in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. This location takes its name from the Apennine pass that runs through it, connecting the city of Rieti with L'Aquila.
Geography
Sella di Corno is located at approximately 1000 meters above sea level and is situated near the regional border between Lazio and Abruzzo. It is surrounded by the mountains of Monte Calvo to the north and Monte Nuria to the south. The pass of Sella di Corno is located at an altitude of 1005 meters above sea level and represents the most direct road connection between Rieti and L'Aquila, through the Abruzzo and Apulian-Sannitic Appalachian National Road 17 and the Terni-Sulmona railway. At the top of the pass, there is a small upland where forage, legumes, and potatoes are cultivated.
Environment
Sella di Corno is a gateway for hikes in the nearby mountain groups of the Abruzzo Apennines. There are small plateaus and mountain lakes, beech forests, etc. To the east, you can climb Monte Calvo, while to the west, you can reach the Cornino and Rascino plateaus.
History
During the pre-Roman era, the Sella di Corno upland marked the border of the Sabine people, who then pushed towards the Rieti and Tiber valleys. In 268 BC, the Sabines obtained Roman citizenship. During this period, the Salaria road was built, which still connects Rome to the Adriatic coast of Ascoli Piceno. From this road, starting from Interocrium (now Antrodoco), the Cecilia road was built (part of the Abruzzo and Apulian-Sannitic Appalachian National Road 17), which reached the city of Amiternum passing through the Sella di Corno pass.
In the square of Sella di Corno, you can still see a milestone that indicates the distance from the city of Rome, in Roman miles: LXXII (72). After the destruction of Amiternum by the Roman Republic (293 BC), the surviving population took refuge in the Corno valley, so called because in the center of the fertile valley stands a horn-shaped height. On this height, a fortification was built and the village developed around it.
The first document attesting to the existence of Sella di Corno dates back to 1145. At the time, the village was called Rocca di Corno and was located about 5 km towards Antrodoco. The University of Sella (Rocca) di Corno built the church of San Pietro Apostolo with feudal recognitions.
Conclusions
Here is our tour of Sella di Corno, a historic location immersed in the nature of the Abruzzo Apennines. With its strategic location, it has always been important for communication between Rieti and L'Aquila. If you are looking for a place to hike, visit mountain woods and lakes, or simply to get away from the city, Sella di Corno is the perfect place for you. I hope you enjoyed this short tour and fell in love with this beautiful location.
