Gagliano Aterno: Castle, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Gagliano Aterno brings together cultural history, natural history and hiking. Here, you will find concrete points of interest ranging from medieval architectural forms and a bear museum to a stage of the Cammino di Francesco in Abruzzo.

Castle, Fountain and Monastery History

The castle of Gagliano Aterno was extensively rebuilt from 1328 onwards by Isabella Acquaviva, the mother of Count Pietro I of Celano. It has preserved its 15th-century forms and comprises a central structure with bifora windows, a large portico, traces of the walls and a round tower. If you are interested in architecture and historical construction phases, you will find several clearly recognisable details here in a single building.

The Fontana Piazza del Popolo is also one of the town's specific historical points of interest. It was built in 1344 by Isabella d’Acquaviva and has three niches with pointed arches as well as a livestock trough.

The Monastero di Santa Chiara in Gagliano Aterno was founded before 1286 and, according to historical sources, given to the Poor Clares.

Natural History and Landscape

The Museo dell'orso is located in the Convento di Santa Chiara in Gagliano Aterno. It displays a taxidermied Marsican brown bear that was found dead and in good condition in 1995 in the Sirente-Velino Regional Nature Park. An educational tour, a museum diorama and information panels explain the ecosystem of the Sirente-Velino area, as well as its geological and morphological characteristics. This provides you with an approach to natural history that connects the animal with its habitat.

Gagliano Aterno lies in the southern part of the Sirente mountain range. The surrounding area is characterised by beech and pine forests and lies on a hill that slopes down towards the Valle Subequana. This combination of mountain range, forest and valley setting gives the town a distinctly scenic character.

Hiking, Tradition and Local Festivals

Hiking trail 18 begins in Gagliano Aterno and ends at the Fonte dell'Acqua. It is rated difficulty level E.

Stage 8 of the Cammino di Francesco in Abruzzo connects Gagliano Aterno with Castelvecchio Subequo. According to local tradition, this stage is associated with the report that Francis of Assisi stayed at the castle of Gagliano Aterno between 1216 and 1222 as a guest of the Counts of Celano. The route therefore also has a historical and spiritual interpretation, while its status as a tradition is retained.

On 17 January, Gagliano Aterno celebrates the festival Fuoco e canti in onore di Sant'Antonio Abate. It includes satirical performances in musical-theatrical form, symbolic fire, food with protective and auspicious functions, folk offerings, stornelli and songs. Anyone wishing to experience local festival culture will encounter a combination of performance, ritual, food and music here.

In the area around Gagliano Aterno, visible remains of the church of Santa Scolastica are still preserved on the Baullo plateau, which can be reached from there. This provides another point of reference leading from the town's buildings into the landscape and to visible traces of ecclesiastical history.

More Destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Campo Di Giove, San Demetrio Ne' Vestini, Civitella Alfedena, Spineta, Campotosto, Cansano, Gioia Dei Marsi and Villalago here.

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