Calascio

province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

The place

In a wonderful position just below the renowned citadel called La Rocca, one of the most interesting in Italy for its structure , often used as the scenery for epic movies, and for the charming, peculiar octagonal church of St. Maria della Pietà (XVII century), on a solitary plateau, the village is today nearly abandoned by the local people, but an obliged stop for history-motivated tourists.

Information:

Altitude: 1210 m a.s.l -- Distance from L'Aquila: 22 km -- Population: ca. 200 inhabitants -- Zip code: -- Phone Area Code: 0862 -- How to reach it:
- bus: from L'Aquila
- road: A25 L'Aquila-Roma, exit L'Aquila Est
then S.S.17bis from L'Aquila
Click here for a map

History:

An important defensive centre in the early Middle Ages, came under Leonello De Acclozemora in the second half of the XIV century, was later given to Ferdinand, king of Naples. At that time a slow decline of the citadel began, and the villagers started to build houses away from the fortress, on the site where the village now rises. Painter Teofilo Patini lived for a long time there.

Sights & Excursions

La Rocca (the fortress) at 1460 m. a.s.l. on a mountain top, is different from the other casltles of the Aquilan territory, which were intended as a refuge for the villagers and therefore very large. On the contrary, Calascio was intended only to accomodate the troops.
The Church of St. Nicola
The Monastery of St. Maria delle Grazie
The Church of St. Francesco
Excursions to Campo Imperatore

Events & Festivities

9-10 July feast of the Assumption and St. Antonio
August Sheep cheese festival

Hotels, Lodging, Restaurants

Rifugio "della Rocca"
Agritour Centers

Genealogy, News & Links

Surnames presently recorded in Calascio

People researching in Calascio

Newspaper articles on Calascio
Calascio.com, a great resource for all the Calascini