Castel di Sangro: Art, History and Nature in the Alto Sangro

Castel di Sangro combines art and architectural history with natural history collections, a river landscape, a viewpoint, a railway line and connections to ski facilities in the surrounding area of Alto Sangro.

Art, Museums and Historic Buildings

The Pinacoteca Patiniana is housed in the Renaissance palace of the De Petra family, also known as Casa del Leone. It opened in 2006 to exhibit works by the artist Teofilo Patini, who was born in Castel di Sangro, and his students.

The Prehistory and Early History section of the Museo Civico Aufidenate displays fossils, evidence from the Italic period and Oscan inscriptions.

At the Chiesa dei SS. Crispino e Crispiniano, it is worth looking at the façade with its Romanesque stone portal, round arch, alternating pilasters and columns, and carved capitals. The altar dates from the 16th century and was recovered from the former Chiesa della Maddalena.

Traces from Civita to the Annunziata

The Chiesa della Madonna degli Eremiti was restored in 1696 after being damaged by the earthquake of 1456. It stands in the centuries-old forest of Scodanibbio. In Civita, the oldest part of the town, a well-preserved Neviera with its structure intact has survived. It was used to collect snow and preserve food with it in summer.

Above the town, the ruins of the Castello dei Sangro lie on Colle San Giovanni. There, they are incorporated into the surviving Samnite and Roman fortifications. The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta was designed by the Lombard architect F. Ferradini and dates from 1695.

The Chiesa di S. Nicola, one of the oldest churches in the town, was once a Grancia of the commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of San Tommaso de L'Aquila and also housed Pope Celestine V. The Church of the Annunziata is a modern reconstruction of the 1430 building destroyed during the war and has a beautiful Baroque façade. The War Museum displays exhibits from the Second World War. The Museo Civico Aufidenate was founded in 1898 and restored or re-established in the Convento della Maddalena.

Railways, Nature and Fly Fishing

The Ferrovia dei Parchi is a 118-kilometre-long, winding and spectacular railway line. From Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo station, it climbs to 1,268 metres, then descends to Castel di Sangro at 793 metres, rises again to 923 metres at S. Pietro Avellana and finally drops to 631 metres at Carpinone.

In Roccacinquemiglia, the Big Bench was built by the Associazione Pro Rocca as part of the Big Bench Community Project near the town centre. It serves as a viewpoint with panoramic views. The Orto Botanico of the Museo Civico Aufidenate has nature trails leading to the limestone block known as the tavola dei monaci.

On the Sangro at Castel di Sangro, the CONI-Palestra di Pesca a Mosca is located at the Ponte della Maddalena, about 100 metres upstream from the Ponte di ferro at the confluence with the Zittola River. No-kill trout fishing is practised there. Castel di Sangro is also relevant for winter sports, as it is well connected in the wider Alto Sangro area to the ski facilities of Roccaraso, Pescocostanzo and Rivisondoli.

Other destinations for orientation

Rocca Di Mezzo, Barete, Collettara, Rocca Pia, Balsorano Nuovo, L’Aquila, Alfedena and Barrea

To the higher-level travel overview: L-Aquila.