Castles, alleys, and autumn traditions in the Peligna Valley

The Peligna Valley is a corner of Abruzzo worth discovering, especially this season. Its ancient history takes us back even further than to the Peligni people, to that of the Phoenicians and the figure of the Trojan hero Solimus (1180 BC), believed to be the son of the gods. During the reign of Augustus, Ovid made Sulmona, his birthplace, famous, and it was the poet himself who, in his Amores, recounted the beauty of the Peligna Valley's landscapes. Many of these remain untouched, thanks to the overwhelming presence of nature.

The Gorges of the Sagittario River

The plateau, in the province of L'Aquila, nestled between the Popoli Gorges and the spectacular Sagittario River Gorges, which have been eroding the limestone cliffs for millennia, a destination for roe deer and wolves (WWF Regional Nature Reserve), extends to the foot of the imposing Maiella, whose peaks are already blanketed in snow, while the arrival of autumn is marked by the colors of the landscape, alternating between ash and maples, already yellow and red, with large oaks, Turkey oaks, occasional poplars, and then, higher up, beech forests.

Pettorano on the Gizio

Reminding us that we are in a land that has always been strategic for trade are the many small, ancient villages that take us back in time to the Middle Ages, when these very regions saw intense fortification activity to address political conditions and defense needs. For those who don't know, Abruzzo is the region in Italy with the highest number of castles, and many are concentrated in this area.

From Castrovalva, perched on a rocky spur, even depicted in an Escher lithograph, to Anversa degli Abruzzi, where it's a pleasure to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the medieval village overlooked by the ruins of a 12th-century Norman castle, offering a panoramic view of the spectacular Sagittario Gorges. Starting from Pacentro, you'll pass the charming village of Bugnara, followed by Raiano, Corfinio, the historic capital of the Italic League, Introdacqua, Prezza, Roccacasale, Vittorito, Pratola Peligna, Cucullo, the village of snake catchers, and Pettorano sul Gizio.

Pettorano on the Gizio

In the latter, walking along the ancient streets or "rue" that descend towards the walls, winding between stairways, courtyards, and ancient buildings enriched with inscriptions and engraved coats of arms, you reach the old walls (five gates are still intact). The medieval feel that pervades the area is softened by the portals, the Baroque flourishes scattered here and there, but above all by the natural views that can be seen looking towards the mountain that envelops the village in a natural embrace.