Penne between the historic centre and Lago di Penne

Penne combines a historic centre spread across two hills with the natural area around Lago di Penne. Stately palaces, churches, monasteries, town gates, fountains and museums create a varied townscape, while the Lago di Penne Regional Nature Reserve provides a second focus for nature observation and peaceful activities.

Historic buildings in the centre

The historic centre of Penne extends across two hills. Its heritage includes stately palaces, churches and monasteries, town gates, historic fountains and museums. The crypt of the Duomo di San Massimo is particularly rich in detail: four ancient marble columns and extensively painted areas characterise the interior. The crypt is also considered one of the rare examples of Italian architecture from before the year 1000.

The Chiesa di San Domenico also takes visitors through different eras. The church dates from the 13th century and has a Baroque interior. The cloister beside it was built in 1330 in the former Dominican monastery. At the Porta San Francesco, a commemorative plaque recalls Saint Francis's visit to Penne in 1216; the town gate itself is built entirely of brick.

Natural areas and regional insights

The WWF Lago di Penne Oasis is both a regional reserve and a Site of Community Importance, or Special Area of Conservation, with the code IT7130214. It is located in the municipality of Penne (PE). The Lago di Penne Regional Nature Reserve makes Penne an access point to the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.

At the “De Leone” Natural History Museum, natural history and traditional crafts come together. The museum presents traditional Vestine arts, including ceramics and woodwork. It also features a diorama about the otter and two aquariums depicting river and lake environments. This makes it possible to combine regional culture and the aquatic habitats in the surrounding area in a single visit.

Trails and activities at Lago di Penne

The trails in the Lago di Penne Regional Nature Reserve are easy to walk. They consist of unpaved surfaces or wooden boardwalks and are mostly also suitable for people with mobility impairments. A canoe trip in a Canadian canoe on Lago di Penne offers the opportunity to observe the local flora and fauna within the Lago di Penne Regional Nature Reserve.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

For travel by train, Pescara Centrale is the nearest railway station. From there, Penne can be reached by the Pescara–Penne suburban bus service. When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Penne, you can therefore first consider whether the historic buildings in the centre or the nature experiences at Lago di Penne should be the main focus of your trip.

More places to include in your Italy travel plans

You can also explore these places as part of your travel planning: Serramonacesca, Caprara D'abruzzo, Cugnoli, Torre De' Passeri, Musellaro, Moscufo, Roccamorice and Bolognano.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pescara.