Fontecchio between local history and nature

Fontecchio between local history and nature

The Oasi di Fontecchio is located in the historic center of Fontecchio. At the same time, it lies in the heart of the Sirente Velino Regional Nature Park. Fontecchio thus offers you two clearly recognizable sides: a view of the town’s evolving history and an engagement with nature and wildlife. Both aspects can be considered independently when planning your days.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace was built in the town center of Fontecchio between 1080 and 1095. Its interior has the floor plan of a Latin cross, small side chapels and a dome.

The old town center of Fontecchio preserves the typical features of a medieval village. It was built on remains from Roman times and developed for defensive purposes. In the heart of the village, visitors interested in culture will find several specific historical themes: sacred architecture, village structure, a clock tower, a bridge and a regional photo exhibition.

Traces of time in the town center

The Torre dell'Orologio dates from the 15th century. Its clock face is divided into six hours and has a single hand. This unusual detail makes the tower interesting even for visitors who are interested not only in the age of a building, but also in its visible design.

The Torre dell'Orologio also houses a permanent photo exhibition about places in the L'Aquila area before and after the 2009 earthquake. The exhibition therefore focuses on regional development and not solely on the history of the tower.

A route through Fontecchio crosses the Ponte delle Pietre, which probably dates from Roman times, and follows the River Aterno. The bridge and the river give this route its own historical and scenic character, while the cautious dating of the Ponte delle Pietre deliberately leaves the period open.

Oasi di Fontecchio and guided nature experiences

The Oasi Naturale di Fontecchio has a visitor center, wildlife areas, a medieval tannery, a center for the care and rehabilitation of wildlife, a water education trail and a picnic area. The range thus extends from information about animals and water to a historical craft. This provides several specific points of interest for different interests within a trip.

Guided tours of the wildlife areas and educational trails are offered at the Oasi di Fontecchio.

On February 3, the Festa di San Biagio festival is celebrated again in Fontecchio. The date adds a single, clear cultural highlight to the town’s annual calendar.

Path to the Pagliare

The path from Fontecchio to the Pagliare is a challenging 3-kilometer route with 500 meters of elevation gain. It follows the historic connecting road between the Borgo di Fontecchio and the Pagliare, a small mountain village. This provides a specific hike with a historical connection for planning your day: the route not only connects two places, but also follows a traditional link between the Borgo and the mountain village. A total of 500 meters of elevation gain is spread across the 3 kilometers of this route, meaning that the difference in elevation has a greater impact on planning the day than the distance alone.

Further destinations

Further destinations for your own reference: Ovindoli, Cocullo, Pratola Peligna, San Pio delle Camere, Ofena, Pietransieri, Avezzano and Pacentro.

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