The Abruzzo region has many fascinating itineraries that take curious visitors off the mass tourism beaten track.
Discovering the Stiffe karst caves
One such itinerary runs between L'Aquila and Sulmona, cutting through the Navelli plain in the heart of region where it is possible to discover some unknown treasures that are absolutely worth seeing. On this journey through the mountains of L'Aquila, the first thing to explore are the Stiffe Caves, ideal for those who love nature and the wonders of geology. The visit takes you into a spectacular karst complex, where an underground stream creates waterfalls, tunnels and plays of light and the temperature inside is 10° all year round.. The visits are always guided and last an hou.
The “Sistine Chapel of Abruzzo”
A few kilometres away is Bominaco, a small hamlet with an extraordinary medieval monastic complex. In the municipality of Caporciano it is best known for the Oratory of San Pellegrino, often called the “Sistine Chapel of Abruzzo”. The interior of the building is entirely covered by an exceptionally well-preserved 14th-century fresco cycle. Next to the chapel are the remains of the Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta dating back to the 11th century which preserves precious Romanesque elements. It stands out for its elegant architecture and is set in stunning natural context: a place out of time, completely immersed in silence.
Rural churches off the beaten track
The road to Sulmona continues through small towns, far from the routes of mass tourism. Then suddenly, we come across the church of Santa Maria de' Centurelli, which was strategic at the time of the transhumance of the shepherds who used to bring their cattle from the mountains to the sea. We also find the smaller church of the Madonna del Camp in the middle of the countryside, with a Renaissance-style roof, a single nave and a single altar.
The cultivation of saffron on the Navelli plain
Passing through charming little villages like: Barisciano, Caporciano and San Pio delle Camere - the latter dominated by the remains of a Medieval castle - we come to Navelli, which famous for the cultivation of the prized L'Aquila saffron PDO, defined for centuries as the “red gold” of the Apennines. The town boasts 571 inhabitants and is part of the association “I borghi più belli d'Italia” (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages).
An itinerary to discover one of Italy’s excellences
Around the end of October, during the flowering of the crocus plants, the landscape is tinged with purple and comes alive with ancient agricultural traditions. Saffron is one of the products that encapsulates all the wisdom of a territory and represents Italian excellence around the world. Wandering through the alleys of the highest and oldest part of this little village means stepping back into the past, and discovering a pace and a charm that are hard to find today
