Valle Castellana
A Dream Destination
Valle Castellana, also known as ''I Piana'' in the Ascoli dialect, is a small Abruzzo town located on a gentle hill at 630 meters above sea level, adjacent to the Monti della Laga. Despite being a little-known village, it hides wonderful places and natural beauties that make it the ideal place for those who want to experience nature and history. Just from the name ''Valle Castellana'' it can be inferred that the municipality has a past linked to the presence of ancient castles and fortifications that, over the centuries, have unfortunately been destroyed. However, even today, suggestive ruins can still be admired that still give emotions to those who love art and history.
The town is characterized by biodiversity and a vast area of unspoiled nature, including ancient chestnut groves, flowery meadows, clear rivers and streams, and ancient stone villages. Every corner of Valle Castellana, in fact, is an opportunity to discover new natural beauties and enjoy the tranquility of nature.
The valley is included in the FURs of Ascoli Piceno and is part of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park and the union of mountain municipalities of Laga. The peculiarity of this valley lies in its altimetric peculiarity, its variety at the microclimatic level, and the presence of a varied flora and fauna. In fact, the abundance of water and altimetric diversity have favored the birth and expansion of forests and dense woods.
Another highlight of this Val d'Aosta is the abundance of porcini and chestnut mushrooms: those who come here cannot resist tasting these delights. The mountains stand out for their enchanting landscapes and are accessible to all lovers of hiking, trekking, and summer and winter walks.
A Dive into History
The history of Valle Castellana is very ancient. It dates back to 1285 when Ceresia, Sorbo, Stornazzano and Rosaio decided to ask for Ascoli citizenship and give the town a name. At that time, the towns were called castles, from the Latin claustrella, which indicated closed and defended towns. Now in Valle Castellana, there are no intact castles anymore, but only ruins. One of the most important and ancient castles was that of Manfrino near Macchia da Sole, which, according to an ancient legend, the name derives from King Manfred of Swabia. The only perfectly intact and even inhabited castle is located in Vallinquina, which dates back to the romantic era and is owned by the noble Bonifaci family.
The history of Valle Castellana is rich in events, such as the presence of monks and the construction of monasteries, struggles between brigands and gendarmes, searches for ancient treasures, wars, and looting. The oldest news concerns the route that deviated from the Via Salaria to Scandarello, leading to Amatrice, and from here climbing the Apennine ridge under Pizzo (where there are traces of crossings), descended into the Martese forest to pass to Morrice, Macchia da Borea, Beretra.
The Surrounding Territory
The territory of Valle Castellana borders to the north with the Marche municipalities of Ascoli Piceno and Acquasanta Terme, to the east with Civitella del Tronto, to the south with Rocca Santa Maria, Torricella Sicura, and Campli and to the west with the Lazio municipalities of Accumoli and Amatrice. Furthermore, it is one of the two Abruzzese municipalities, together with Alfedena, whose territory borders two regions.
In the seismic classification of Italy by civil protection, Valle Castellana is identified as ''Zone 2'', that is, an area with medium seismicity, while in the Climatic Classification of Italian Municipalities, it is marked as ''Zone E''.
Conclusions
Valle Castellana is a place to see, where you can enjoy the fresh breeze of the valley, the scent of flowers, the beauty of natural landscapes, especially mountains. Every corner of the town deserves to be discovered to fully appreciate the magic and serenity of nature. It is ideal for adventure lovers who want to challenge the big trees, for hiking enthusiasts or summer and winter walks, and for those who want a trip out of town with family or friends. There is no better opportunity to spend a day, a weekend, or a vacation immersed in nature, where history surrounds you and peace is the true protagonist.
