This rural area of foothills and mountains is home to villages and woods, and a starting point for hikes, cycling and climbing excursions. The artistic heritage is rich and varied, from the painted stone of Pietracamela to the centuries-old history of Castelli and it pottery, and also one of Europe’s most important places of worship: San Gabriele dell’Addolorata.
Valle Castellana
Valle Castellana has interesting Romanesque churches and Bonifaci castle, in the Vallinguina district, is also worth seeing. The entire area around Valle Castellana is a must for its stunning scenery of the Laga mountains, with their striking villages, rivers, lakes, age-old trees, not to mention several ski resorts.
Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park was established in 1991 and is the third largest national park in Italy for area.
Castelli
Castelli is a municipality in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, with a population of 1,159. The tiny town, on the slopes of Gran Sasso d’Italia, is one of the “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” circuit of outstanding villages, famous for its traditional pottery. The Liceo Grue is home to the Museo Raccolta Internazionale della Ceramica.