Villages in Abruzzo

Almost all the mountain centres of Abruzzo, sitting tight and protected on the peaks, were wise in their geographical setting and their own morphology for two reasons: the extreme danger of the Middle Ages, a period in which the majority of these villages arose, and the business (but it could be said mono-culture) of sheep farming, that has its kingdom in the mountains.
Built entirely out of live stone and mud, with a total, phobic absence of wood, all the old villages of the Abruzzo mountains express the obsessive attachment to stone, which is typical of the Mediterranean civilization. These houses of bare stone, built dose, one to another, to form a compact, protective mass in guise of a wall (therefore called "case-mura", wall-houses), are communicating their never-ending, anguishing need of defence in a world of extended, feudal anarchy, of the critical evasion of the central powers and therefore, the lack of organized systems of defence. The outside perimeter of the houses enclosed the village in a civilian (none the less effective), defensive circle.
On the outside there are few windows, almost as narrow as slits, placed in the upper floors. A direct consequence of the dangerous times, the so called "defence barriers" represented the only solid system of self-defence for the local population. Real, fortified villages more than just castles, these allowed a prolonged, defensive retreat for the people, if necessary.

Here are some of the nearest towns to DEDALO art center (within 20-30 km)

		Sulmona, famous for its confetti and for being the birthplace of Ovid, Sulmona is a beautiful legendary town where you can see Medieval Jousts and Pageantry.
		Navelli - a medieval town where houses are all made entirely out of mud and stone
		Capestrano - famous for its necropolis, Capestrano is mostly known for the warrior of Capestrano which dates back to the VI century AD.
		L'Aquila - the town of the 99 churches
		Roccascalegna - town of the Dark Ages dominated by the evocative castle, built on sheer rock and perfectly integrated with it, that rises like a sentry guarding the valley.
		Pacentro - medieval borough, townhall and castle
		Scanno

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL THE TOWNS IN ABRUZZO

Famous itineraries:

• D'Annunzio's Itinerary
• The Freedom Trail: From Sulmona to Casoli
• The Majella, Abruzzo sacred mountain trail
• Trekking from Blockhaus
• Abruzzo culinary tours

E-mail: colleenco@gmail.com