Abruzzo Road Trip: Exploring Medieval Villages, Rocca Calascio and the 'Little Tibet' of Italy

It’s easy to take for granted what you have on your doorstep when you’re rushing about with daily life so it was nice to take a day off and remind ourselves just how awesome nature's playground is! Would you believe we are only 20 minutes drive from the edge of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park? Even though you can see the Adriatic sea from La Stradella! We certainly live up to the Abruzzese expression that you can spend the morning in the mountains and the afternoon by the sea.

This day trip has a little bit of everything and is perfect for anyone who loves vast blue skies, medieval village hopping and spectacular views all wrapped up in a neat 115km circular route. Our day saw us winding up into the mountains through dense green forests, exploring a medieval fortress, wandering the narrow lanes of ancient villages and admiring dramatic high‑altitude plains and so could yours… if you come and stay here with us!

Vado di Sole: A vantage point not to be missed

Start the day bright and early heading away from the coast and towards the jagged silhouette of the Gran Sasso massif in the direction of Farindola. More on Farindola later but for now we continue climbing. The road will begin to wind and twist, the air will become fresh and the landscape will transform from rolling hills to something altogether more dramatic. You're entering the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Our first stop is a scenic viewpoint called Vado di Sole. It’s just a curve in the road with an unassuming carpark but it offers you a taste of what’s to come. From this viewpoint the mountains unfold before you, a series of deep valleys, limestone peaks and ancient forests. As you leave Vado di Sole you take a sweeping curve and begin to descend the vast expanse that is Campo Imperatore opens up before you. We’ll come back to Campo Imperatore at the other end of the loop.

Castel del Monte: the perfect medieval village to lose yourself in

For now we carry on to the village of Castel del Monte, a picture perfect village balanced on a rocky hilltop. Here you can wander the narrow cobbled streets of the well preserved centro storico before grabbing a much deserved caffè from the bar that sits right on the little roundabout in the middle of town and watch the cyclists whizz by. There’s a fountain in the middle of the roundabout so make sure you top up your water bottle before heading off in the direction of the village of Calascio.

Rocca Calascio: An epic a mountaintop fortress

Calascio acts as the gateway to Rocca Calascio. During the winter months it’s possible to drive all the way to the hamlet of Rocca Calascio, where you begin the walk up to the fortress, but during the summer months you have to park at Calascio and there is a bus service that takes you up the hamlet. You can stop here for lunch at one of a number of bars and restaurants, then walk off your meal with a short hike up to the 1000 year old castle. It’s only about 400 metres on a wide, stony track, which might take you 10 to 20 minutes depending on your pace. Be sure to wear sensible shoes, the path is not difficult, but it is uneven. The 360 degree panorama at the top is well worth it, as is the magnificent fortress ruin. At an elevation of around 1,460 metres the castle is the highest fortress in the Apennines.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio: A perfectly preserved medieval village

Just another 7 minutes drive down the road you will find Santo Stefano di Sessanio, one of the 26 “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” that Abruzzo has to offer. In recent years the village has been brought back to life by an ambitious restoration project that also saw the creation of an albergo diffuso. Essentially this is a hotel but rather than being in one building the rooms are spread across several buildings in the centro storico. As you wander about you will see signs for the various rooms, artisan shops selling local produce, slow food restaurants serving up local delicacies and photo opportunities a plenty!

Campo Imperatore: A Journey to the Roof of the Apennines

You’ll now be ready to close the loop of your drive in the mountains, continuing on the circuit towards Campo Imperatore. Along the way you will see a couple of American-style roadside saloons which are popular with cyclists, motorcyclists and day trippers alike. Here you can buy bread, local cheeses and arrosticini (a traditional Abruzzese dish of grilled skewered lamb) which you cook yourself over charcoal. There are plenty of places where you can find excellent and tasty vegetarian and vegan food in Abruzzo but unfortunately this pitstop isn’t one of them. An interesting fact… If these huts look familiar that’s because the vast expanse that is Campo Imperatore has been the backdrop to several films including two famous “spaghetti westerns”.

A holiday in Abruzzo is not complete without a trip to Campo Imperatore. At over 2,000 metres above sea level, this vast plateau, also known as “Little Tibet”, is located at the foot of the Corno Grande. The Corno Grande is the highest peak in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park at 2912m. It’s a wide-open wilderness of grassland and craggy peaks that seems to stretch forever. In summer, the fields bloom with alpine flowers; in autumn, it turns golden and windswept.

For nature lovers, Campo Imperatore is a paradise. The plateau is a starting point for an extensive network of walking and mountain biking trails, ranging from gentle strolls across the plain to challenging ascents of the Corno Grande.

At the western end of the plain, you'll find the Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo, which leverages the clear, unpolluted skies for research and holds public events throughout the year. You will also find the top station of the funivia, a large cable car that provides the only winter access to the Campo Imperatore ski fields from the valley town of Fonte Cerreto. In summer you can buy a return ticket or opt for a one-way ticket and hike the other leg of the journey.

Farindola: The final pitstop, refreshments before heading home

Finally it’s time to start the journey home. You can break up your return journey by stopping off in Farindola, famed for pecorino cheese which holds DOC status. La Cantina di Trabband will put together a tagliere to suit all dietary requirements and you can have a cheeky glass of local wine while you discuss the day's events before making the final 25 minute drive back to La Stradella.

This loop through the Gran Sasso highlands is one of our favourite day trips for a reason. It combines everything we love about Abruzzo: epic scenery, villages lost in time, great food and connecting with nature.

We hope you love it as much as we do. Buon viaggio!