SURROUNDINGS

Terre di Aveja it can be the starting point for visiting the many places of great historical and artistic interest, architectural, archaeological and naturalistic representing a vital part of the extraordinary beauty of Abruzzo.

FOSSA:
• the picturesque old town among narrow streets below and above the typical medieval arches.
• the fortified castle and the remains of a medieval tower.
• the Church of Maria Assunta (modified until the 18th century), within singular coffered wooden ceiling of the 1500s.
• the Church of S. Maria ad Cryptas and its precious frescoes of centuries XIII, XIV and XV (made famous by the television program Voyager for his alleged plot with the compelling story of the legendary Knights Templar.)
• the Church of San Clemente.
• the necropoli of Fossa (9th century b.c) with the discovery of 600 tombs and unique archaeological.
• the speleo mitraico from Roman times (3rd c. ad), with the presence of a rock-hewn cave dedicated to the worship of the rising sun, singular in its case.

OCRE:
• the spectacular convent of S. Angelo d'Ocre overhanging place on a cliff, built in 1242 by the Countess Sibilla d'Ocre. < br/> • the mighty and fortified monastery of Santo Spirito (1222).
• the remains of the medieval castle of Ocre (13th century) that stand on the top of a panoramic cliff overlooking the old town of Fossa and the Middle Aterno Valley.

GROTTE DI STIFFE:
The Caves of Stiffe are counted among nature's most beautiful and spectacular of our country. Inside the caves, an underground river fed by waters from the plateau of the Rocche, who have created over the years numerous stalactites and stalagmites, and fascinating waterfalls that make this place a true wonder of nature.

L'AQUILA:
• the Basilica of Collemaggio founded in 1287 by Pietro da Morrone, crowned Pope Celestine V in 1294, is the most important religious monument of the city. Contains the first holy door in the world and is home to an annual Jubilee (28-29 August), unique of its kind.
• the Basilica di San Bernardino da Siena, (15th century), built to house the remains of St. Bernardine of Siena, died in L'Aquila on May 20, 1444.
• the Spanish Fort , built in 1532 by the viceroy of Naples, Pedro Álvarez de Toledo. Particularly in its square shape with the corners in ramparts from the characteristic shape to spearhead and entirely surrounded by a large moat.
• the Fontana delle 99 cannelle, historical and monumental fountain with ninety-nine masks from which water flows. For tradition, masks represent the Lords of ninety-nine castles that gave rise to the city in 1200. Among all deserves dwell on that from the fish head, located on the right side: it invokes the Colapesce legend and, therefore, Frederick II, who contributed to the foundation of L'Aquila.
• the Duomo was built in the 13th century, destroyed by an earthquake in 1703 was subsequently restored in the 19th and 20th century. Dedicated to the Patron Saint, Massimo D'Aveia, the Cathedral houses, from 1414, his remains.

BOMINACO:
• the Church Santa Maria Assunta e the Oratorio di San Pellegrino (10th c.), are an example of Romanesque architecture of Abruzzo, with important frescoes inside. But even more remarkable is the stone decoration, discoverable in the capitals of the robust columns and especially in liturgical furnishings: Besides an Ambo of 1180.

CALASCIO:
• the Castle of Rocca Calascio, founded around the year 1000, located on a ridge at 1,460 metres in height, used as a military observation point in communication with other nearby castles and towers to the Adriatic. The structure, completely in white stone with square ashlars, consists of a central male, with a battlemented walls in pebbles and four corner towers with circular base strongly escarpments.
• the baptistery of Santa Maria della Pietà (16th/17th century) built on the path that leads to Rocca di Calascio. Unique for its octagonal shape.

SANTO STEFANO dI SESSANIO:
is one of the most beautiful medieval villages of Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga. It's a village completely constructed of white limestone, that time has rendered picturesque.

SKI RESORTS:
• Ovindoli
• Campo Felice
• Campo Imperatore