Rocca Calascio is a ruined fortress in the L’Aquila province of Abruzzo. You’ll find it overlooking the town of Calascio here. The views from the fortress are spectacular. Here are a few photos I took on my visits.
It is the highest fortress in Italy at 1460 meters. If you start walking from near the town you are already at 1200 meters. You still have a climb, but there’s a path all the way. It takes a little effort to walk there, and I expect in the height of summer it would be tough (I was there in spring). But take your time, maybe bring a packed lunch and have a picnic. Chill there if you can. It’s fabulous.
On the way you’ll pass an octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà. You might even see some sheep!
When I went there for the first time I think I wandered around the ruin and the sheep paths for hours. I tried to get a photograph of a butterfly that, either because of the breeze, or because it didn’t like posing, wouldn’t stay still.
This area of Abruzzo is part of one of Abruzzo’s many national parks, Gran Sasso e Monti della LagaNational Park. If you are interested in the park and want more information, you can get it here.
Movie buffs might like to know that Ladyhawke, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, and Leo McKern had some scenes filmed at Rocca Calascio.
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[...] to Rocca Calascio and walk around the ruins, stopping to have a [...]