From Bussi to L’Aquila among abbeys and Castle

A few kilometres away from the Adriatic Coast, on the A25 motorway, take the Bussi exit and go towards L’Aquila.
As soon as you enter State Road no. 602, head to Bussi sul Tirino and spend part of the morning on the Tirino river where, thanks to a local cooperative, you can go canoeing or experience rafting or mountain biking. After that, take the opportunity to visit the villages on S.S. 17 and the churches of the tratturo, the ancient path which lead herds to pasture.
Lovely hamlets follow one another along the road: if you happen to be in Navelli in the third week of August, don’t miss the sagra (local festival) of chickpeas and saffron, the product which made the village famous. During the last night, in addition to tasting experiences and cultural events, you can also attend the amusing Palio degli asini (Donkey race) just outside the centre of the village. The Navelli plain, famous for saffron, features very evocative villages, some of them still recovering from the 2009 earthquake. Peltuinum, one of the region’s main archaeological sites, dating back to Roman times, is definitely worth a visit: of special interest are its temple, of which only the basement has been preserved, and a well-maintained theatre. The columns of the temple were restored and moved to the splendid Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Bominaco, which is internally adorned with important frescos. Going ahead, you will reach Prata D’Ansidonia, whose walled village of Castello Camponeschi is a must-see, and then Tussio and San Pio delle Camere, where you can visit two restored churches of the tratturo: Santa Maria dei Cintorelli and Santa Maria in Cerulis. And the surprises are not over yet because in Barisciano, a few kilometres from L’Aquila, you can enter the Gran Sasso National Park and reach the real jewels of the Apennines: Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Rocca Calascio and Castel del Monte.
These villages offer wonderful natural landscapes and, in the summer, cultural events, shows and sagre. In Santo Stefano, don’t miss the chance to walk along the narrow streets, climbing up to the historic centre with its Tower, and stop there for the sagra of lentils in mid-September. When in Calascio, take some time to walk up to the Rocca (stronghold) and to the near octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà, a small temple erected in 1596.
In Castel del Monte, while enjoying the air of Gran Sasso, explore the centre and buy the excellent local products, including ricotta and Canestrato Pecorino cheese.
On the road back, you could descend to the beautiful hamlet of Ofena, atop a small hill at the highest point of the Tirino Valley, and not only visit its architectural and natural beauties, but also taste the famous and excellent wine produced locally. Continue along S.S. 602 and go to Carpineto della Nora, where the Abbey of San Bartolomeo is located, one of the most valuable and best-preserved monuments of the Cistercian medieval art in Abruzzo. In a short time, you will be back on the motorway to Pescara again.
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