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Villages of the Gran Sasso

Discover the villages of Campo Imperatore, Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Rocca Calascio, Barisciano and the towns on the Teramo side of the Gran Sasso: medieval hamlets immersed in the nature of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, surrounded by castles, high plateaus and breathtaking mountain views.


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The villages of Campo Imperatore, Castel del Monte (1346 m), Santo Stefano di Sessanio (1251 m), Rocca Calascio (1210 m) and Barisciano: medieval castles surrounded by the nature of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park



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Medieval villages, plateaus and high-altitude nature between traditions and unique panoramas

🏔️ Main Villages

Explore the authentic soul of Gran Sasso between history and altitude

Castel del Monte

  • Altitude: 1,346 m Fortified village linked to transhumance, characterized by stone alleys and deep pastoral traditions.

S. Stefano di Sessanio

  • Altitude: 1,251 m One of the most beautiful villages in Italy, famous for its craft workshops and Renaissance atmosphere.

Rocca Calascio

  • Altitude: 1,210 m Iconic medieval fortress, international film set with breathtaking views over Campo Imperatore.

Campo Imperatore

  • Altitude: ~2,000 m The “Little Tibet” of the Apennines, a boundless plateau and base for skiing and astronomy.

Pietracamela

  • Altitude: 1,005 m Village set among the rocks, gateway to Prati di Tivo and climbs to Corno Grande. Discover Pietracamela →

Other Towns

  • Barisciano (940 m) Gateway to the Park and centre of ancient agricultural traditions.
  • Isola del Gran Sasso (498 m) Known for the Sanctuary of Saint Gabriel and the view over the Teramo side.

🌄 Experiences to Live

Activities & Sports

  • 🥾 Trekking & MTB Corno Grande, Franchetti Hut and Lake Campotosto.
  • ⛷️ Winter Outdoor Alpine skiing, snowshoeing and ice climbing in Prati di Tivo.

Culture & Taste

  • 🏰 History Medieval castles, Romanesque churches and transhumance museums.
  • 🍷 Food & Wine S. Stefano lentils, arrosticini and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine.

🏔️ Gran Sasso d'Italia: Useful Contacts

Essential numbers for hikers, skiers and visitors on both sides

Teramo Side

  • Prati di Tivo Lifts 0861 959605 Opening status of gondola and chairlifts.
  • Municipality of Pietracamela 0861 959134 Institutional information and road conditions.
  • Sanctuary of Saint Gabriel 0861 976121 Sanctuary switchboard (Isola del Gran Sasso).

L'Aquila Side

  • Gran Sasso Tourist Center 0862 22146 Campo Imperatore cable car and ski report.
  • Santo Stefano Tourist Office 0862 899017 Tourist information and village.
  • Municipality of Castel del Monte 0862 938131 Tourist office for the southern Gran Sasso area.

High-Altitude Mountain Huts

  • C. Franchetti Hut 0861 959684 Altitude 2,433 m (Prati di Tivo side).
  • Duca degli Abruzzi Hut 347 5255250 Altitude 2,388 m (Campo Imperatore side).

Gran Sasso Rescue

  • Abruzzo Mountain Rescue 118 For technical interventions on walls or trails.
  • Meteomont Carabinieri 1515 Snow and avalanche bulletin for Gran Sasso.

Gran Sasso Webcams

  • Prati di Tivo (Square) Watch Live View of the square and lift departure area.
  • Corno Piccolo - Franchetti Hut View East Face High-altitude weather monitoring (2,433 m).
  • Campo Imperatore (Cable Car) Cable Car Status View of the Observatory and cable car arrival.
  • Santo Stefano di Sessanio Village View Weather conditions in the village and towards the fortress.

Weather and Avalanches

  • Meteomont Bulletin Check Hazard Level Official snow and avalanche bulletin by the Carabinieri Forest Service.
  • Abruzzo Weather (Cetemps) Detailed Forecasts The excellence centre of the University of L'Aquila for local weather.
  • Abruzzo Civil Protection Alert Notices Weather and hydrogeological alerts and official regional notices.

💡 Practical Tips

Small tips to enjoy Gran Sasso at its best

When to Go

  • 📅 Seasons Summer: Ideal for trekking and visiting medieval villages.
    Winter: Perfect for skiing and snowshoeing at altitude.

Preparation

  • 🧥 Equipment Always dress in layers. The weather can change dramatically between the villages (1,000 m) and the plateau (2,000 m).

Recommended Tour

  • 🗺️ Classic Loop Rocca Calascio → Santo Stefano di Sessanio → Campo Imperatore → Pietracamela.

Information

  • 📣 Contacts For specific events and updated opening times, always contact the Pro Loco or the Park visitor centres.

🍴 Flavours of Gran Sasso

Excellent products to taste in the villages and mountain huts

Legumes and Saffron

  • S. Stefano Lentil Slow Food Presidium, small and tasty, grown above 1,200 metres.
  • L'Aquila Saffron PDO The red gold of the Navelli plateau, dried over charcoal embers.

Pastoral Tradition

  • Arrosticini Skewers of sheep meat cooked on the “canalina” grill, symbol of Abruzzo cuisine.
  • Farindola Pecorino The only cheese in the world made with pork rennet, with a unique flavour.

⚠️ Trail Difficulty Legend

Official CAI classification to consciously choose your itinerary

Basic and Intermediate

  • T - Tourist Walks on dirt roads or wide paths. Requires comfortable shoes.
  • E - Hiking Trails with elevation gain. Requires hiking boots and basic fitness.

Advanced and Technical

  • EE - Expert Hikers Steep or exposed sections. Requires no vertigo and solid experience.
  • EEA - Expert with Equipment Via ferratas or trails with cables. Requires via ferrata set, helmet and harness.

🏔️ High Peaks: Trekking and Mountaineering

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Gran Sasso environment is high mountain terrain. The routes indicated require suitable equipment, physical preparation and knowledge of the area. For your safety, if you do not have mountaineering experience, always rely on a certified Mountain Guide.

The Great Classics

  • Corno Grande - Normal Route [EE] From Campo Imperatore to the summit (2,912 m). Breathtaking views, but pay attention to the scree and final rocky steps.
  • Monte Camicia Loop [EE] One of the most spectacular and wild hikes, with views of the “North Face”, the Little Tibet of Abruzzo.

Alpine Routes and Via Ferratas

  • Direttissima Route [F/PD] Classic mountaineering ascent that requires the use of hands (grade I/II). For experts only.
  • Danesi Via Ferrata on Corno Piccolo Technical equipped route. Requires full via ferrata kit and helmet.

🛠️ Services and Professionals

Mountain Guides and Leaders

Do not take risks: be accompanied by those who live the mountains every day.

  • Abruzzo Mountain Guides Regional College for technical hikes, mountaineering and via ferratas.
  • Compagnia delle Guide Experienced professionals for guided trekking, snowshoeing and safety courses.

Equipment Rental

Everything you need for your winter excursions and trekking.

  • Snowshoe Rental Available at the visitor centres of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Prati di Tivo and Campo Imperatore.
  • Snow Safety Kit Possibility to rent avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe (mandatory for snow excursions).

📞 Professional Contacts and Rentals

Book your guided excursion or reserve the necessary equipment

Mountain Guides and Leaders

  • Compagnia delle Guide (Teramo) 328 0097929 UIAGM Mountain Guides for Corno Grande, mountaineering and via ferratas.
  • Mountain Evolution Guides (AQ) 338 2717448 Specialised in trekking in Campo Imperatore and ski mountaineering.
  • Medium Mountain Leaders College Info Experts in botany and wildlife for hikes in the villages and at altitude.

Snowshoe and Ski Rental

  • “Il Muretto” Rental (Prati di Tivo) 0861 959623 Snowshoes, ski mountaineering gear and via ferrata kit at the base of Prati.
  • Lo Chalet Rental (Campo Imperatore) 0862 22146 Full equipment for snow excursions and skiing.
  • Sextantio Rental (S. Stefano) 0862 899112 E-bike and snowshoe rental for tours around the fortress.

* We recommend booking by phone at least 24–48 hours in advance, especially on weekends.

While travelling through Abruzzo, we decided to explore the villages lying below the Campo Imperatore plateau.


It’s a holiday, we feel relaxed and unhurried, and the whole day is ours. What to do? A drive through the mountains of Abruzzo is always the perfect choice. Without a fixed destination, we head up toward our beloved peaks, ready to enjoy the landscapes unfolding at every turn. The road from Barisciano to Fonte Vetica is already a pleasure to drive: a classic mountain road, winding just enough to make the journey fun for Ale.

Entrance to Santo Stefano di Sessanio View of Calascio View of Calascio Castel del Monte Rocca Calascio

As we climb higher, we find patches of snow — a welcome surprise, since this year we haven’t yet witnessed a proper snowfall. The first village we reach is Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Being a holiday, the village is lively and full of people. We simply drive through without entering the narrow lanes, yet even from the main road its medieval soul is unmistakable: stone houses clustered together, an atmosphere preserved with great care by its inhabitants. We leave Santo Stefano behind and continue along this “road of wonders”.

Every time I pass here, I think how wonderful it would be to spend a few days discovering the small villages of the L’Aquila area, stopping wherever inspiration strikes and truly getting to know each place. Maybe one day. The next ideal stop would be Calascio: the village is charming, but the real highlight is the fortress. Rocca Calascio is a magical place. The walk to reach it is pleasant, and once at the top, the view over the valley is breathtaking. The fortress, majestic and silent, tells centuries of history.

Rocca Calascio View of Castel del Monte View of Castel del Monte
We continue climbing, leaving another little paradise behind us. After a few more bends, the third village of our route appears: Castel del Monte. It’s one of our favourite places. Even though we visit often, seeing it appear between the mountains always moves us. We stop for a panoramic photo and, with so much snow around, we take a few more pictures. We have lunch here, enjoying the winter atmosphere.

When we set off again, we discover that the road ahead is closed due to snow. No problem: the day has been perfect as it is, and the rest of our exploration will wait for spring.

Castel del Monte Castel del Monte Castel del Monte Castel del Monte Castel del Monte

Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report

The most popular ski resorts, the updated snow report and useful information on how to find lifts or book accommodation for your winter holiday
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Webcams in Abruzzo

View the webcams in Abruzzo and check real‑time weather conditions. Some webcams belong to www.abruzzoparchi.it, others are located throughout the region
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Abruzzo weather

Weather forecasts for the coming days in Abruzzo. Live weather via our webcams and temperatures recorded in several mountain areas
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Abruzzo trail maps

Maps for trekking, mountain biking, ski touring, running and horse riding. You can also download the GPX track of each route
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Outdoor activities

Walks, diving, climbing, mountain biking, horse riding — all outdoor activities available in Abruzzo
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Holiday in Abruzzo

Choose between sea or mountains, summer or winter, a sporty holiday or a relaxing one — Abruzzo has it all
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Traditional Abruzzese cuisine

Abruzzo is famous for its cuisine, both mountain and coastal, with traditions that vary from area to area
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Experience Abruzzo

Abruzzo’s villages are famous for their fortresses, mountains and the traditional trabocchi along the southern coast
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Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

One of Italy’s most famous and oldest national parks
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Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

One of Italy’s wildest parks, with typical Apennine landscapes and Dolomite‑like peaks
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Velino‑Sirente Regional Park

Located in the heart of the Apennines, home to the beautiful villages of the Rocche Plateau
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Majella National Park

One of the snowiest places in Italy, a unique mountain massif rising close to the sea
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