Between town and country pride of the Abruzzo region

Itinerary n. 2: Pennapiedimonte, Palombaro, Fara San Martino
At the foot of the Majella, on its south-east side, a little used road crosses villages and countryside which should be the symbol and pride of Abruzzo. Leave from Pennapiedimonte (in the province of Chieti), 50 minutes away from Pescara. This small village, “the Pinna (a fin-shaped rock) at the foot of the Mount”, nestles in the foothills of the mountain and affords views over the hills and the sea. The centre of the village, located at a height of 699 metres on a steep ridge overlooking the valley of the Avello river, is worth visiting for its narrow alleys, its Church, the Tower and the medieval Fountain. You can’t miss the chance to walk, or to go by car, up to Balzolo, the highest part of the hamlet, at a height of 710 metres. From here, you can enjoy a superb view of the deep and evocative canyon, covered with luxuriant vegetation, and even take a stroll along the bridleway, by crossing a short tunnel, to enjoy the panoramic view of the highest peaks of the Majella.
After leaving Pennapiedimonte, take the winding road to Palombaro, driving carefully; before reaching the village (about 7 km away from Pennapiedimonte through the old S.S. 263), you could visit the Cave of Sant’Angelo in Palombaro, an authentic jewel. Follow “Feudo d’Ugni” directions and take the little road which, after about 3 km, shows directions to the Cave of Sant’Angelo (Grotta di Sant’Angelo) and leads to a car park: the cave is within 20 minutes walking distance from there. This cave has one single chamber, which preserves some ruins of a Benedictine church probably dating back to the 11th – 12th century, first dedicated to S. Agata d’Ugni and then to the cult of S. Angelo.
Once back on the SS 263, stop in Palombaro to visit its town centre and churches. If you happen to be there on 14th August, you can attend Fieragosto (an August festival): the historic centre of the village comes back to life through the flavours, fragrances and crafts of Abruzzo. You can then head to the last stop of the day: Fara San Martino. Famous for its pasta factories, Fara is actually one of the hamlets most closely tied to the mountain, not only because it is located at the entrance to one of the most spectacular valleys of the Majella massif, the Valley of Santo Spirito, but also because it is surrounded by rocky spurs that change their colour depending on the time of the day and allow you to see the caves, the paths and, if you are lucky, even chamois. Terra Vecchia, the oldest part of Fara, has kept its fortified structure unchanged. You can access it through Porta del Sole (Door of the Sun) and explore its typical narrow alleys. The source of the Verde river and the Monastery of Santo Spirito alla Majella are also worth a visit, the latter being just a 10-minute walk away, through an evocative narrow passageway between extremely high mountains.
At sunset, pop over to Civitella Messer Raimondo, which overlooks Fara, and catch sight of the majestic Cima dell’Altare, 2,542 metres high, inside the deep Valley of Santo Spirito. In Fara you can stay overnight: there are charming Bed & Breakfasts, typical trattorias, restaurants and excellent wines. Pizza al fresco is great too!