Sulmona, ITALY
Porta Pacentro.
One of the amazing doorways into the walled city of ancient Sulmona.
(Check out the pattern)
About Sulmona
Population: 33.000
Overview:
Although it is one of the smallest regions of Italy, rugged Abruzzo boasts the highest peaks of the Apennine range, the Gran Sasso. In fact, most of the territory is made up of majestic mountains spilling down to the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Unsuitable for agriculture, the region’s economy depends on pastoral activity and specialty artisans (goldsmiths, wood and stone carvers, wrought-iron craftsmen) and tourism. Abruzzo is the ancestral land of many Americans who return to Italy in search of their roots. The region’s four major national parks and nature reserves are ideal for hiking, free climbing, alpine, cross-country, and downhill skiing.
Our favorite medieval villages to explore include Pacentro, Scanno, Introdacqua, and the historic capital city of L’Aquila with its Fontana delle 99 Cannelle, a fountain built in 1272 with 99 spouts. In Sulmona you find Ceramics of Castelli, a tradition since the Middle Ages. Gastronomic specialties: A large variety of pastas come from this region.
Inland you find lamb dishes and a special variety of pecorino cheeses, while the coast offers seafood delights including stuffed squid.
Highly prized wines come from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
To the south of the fertile Peligna Valley flanked by the majestic Maiella Mountains and legends of its famous son ‘Ovid’ lays Sulmona, at an altitude of 405m. A city of the ancient people of the Peligni with ancient and legendary origins, believed founded four centuries before Rome, it now has the status ‘Citta d’ Arte’. A rich and affluent provincial town owing its wealth to gold jewellery ( a tradition which continues today) and confetti (sugar coated almonds) An historical centre which preserves remarkable architectural heritage with streets lined with imposing churches and palaces. Sulmona has charm to spare.
Sulmonas central position one and a half hours from Rome and forty five minutes from the Adriatic makes it an ideal base in Italy.
Within a 20km radius of Sulmona there are 5 ‘ I Borghi piu belli d’Italia, 16 ‘anci’ certified villages. 3 Parco Nazionale and 3 Riserva Regionale, the highest per sq km in Italy.
Climate in Sulmona
Abruzzo has a temperate climate with hot clear skies in summer.
Spring is enchanting with its infinity of wildflowers.
Autumn has exquisite warm colours in the trees, vines and olive groves.
Winter with snow in the mountains nearby Roccarasso offers unrivalled skiing.
The Medieval Village of Introdacqua
About Introdacqua
Population: 1.862
Nature, art, culture
About The Abruzzo
| Abruzzo is a breath of fresh air, sparsely populated with majestic beauty and vast tracts of unspoilt wilderness which are dotted with hilltop villages and medieval towns. Abruzzo has the highest peaks in the Apennines where wolves, Marsicano bears, wild boar and chamois roam, golden eagles, kestrels and peregrine falcons soar and legends of witches and werewolves still persist. It makes up Italy’s wildest terrain with one third of the mountains of the region protected, be they National Parks, Regional Parks or Reserves, the most of any region in Europe. Here flora and fauna remain intact in silent valleys and untamed mountain plains. There is 129km of Adriatic coastline with long stretches of sandy beaches and a long snow season which ensures the best skiing in central Italy, Roccaraso being the premier resort with over 100km of piste. In the villages you can see people still carrying out crafts like their forefathers; Scanno for lace making, Sulmona for goldsmiths and Rapino for painted ceramics to name but a few. Abruzzo has an excellent infrastructure and tourisim is prevalent both winter and summer, l’Aquila at the foot of the ‘Gran Sasso d’Italia Massif’ (the highest peak in the Apennines wherein lies ‘Il Calderone’ the most southern glacier in Europe) and Sulmona in the Peligna Valley being the most visited of the regions historic towns. |
