Collarmele: Churches, History and Mountain Landscapes

Collarmele offers a clear mix of mountain scenery, historic buildings and excursions in the surrounding area when planning a hotel stay. The town lies at the foot of the Sirente-Velino mountain range. Its historic buildings include the church of Madonna delle Grazie, the Tempio di Santa Maria del Cituro and the Torre Normanna; only a few ruins remain of the ancient castle of Cituro. There are also eight fountains in the natural surroundings and an annual patron-saint festival. You can plan your stay around whether you are most interested in architecture, historical time references, scenery or a specific event date.

Location and Scenery

Collarmele can be reached via the Forca Caruso pass, which lies 1,107 metres above sea level. This provides a specific reference point for your journey, while the town’s location at the foot of the Sirente-Velino range describes its connection to the surrounding landscape. Excursions around Collarmele let you experience forests, high-altitude areas and waterways. Alongside the buildings, the area’s natural features are another distinct focus to consider.

Churches and Historic Buildings

The church of Madonna delle Grazie lies north of Collarmele. Its façade dates from the 16th century, and the upper section is decorated with Renaissance polychrome majolica. Inside is a painting of the Madonna della Misericordia dated 1570. The two dates refer to different things: the century places the façade in context, while the painting bears an exact date. This distinction helps you consider the architecture and the artwork separately in time.

The Tempio di Santa Maria del Cituro is located in the hamlet of Fonte Cituro. It was rebuilt in 1988 in memory of an ancient chapel mentioned in a papal bull of 1188. The dates refer to different points in time: 1988 marks the rebuilding, while 1188 is the date of the reference to the older chapel. Together with the painting at Madonna delle Grazie dated 1570, they offer a comparison of different historical references: an artwork, a rebuilding and a written mention of an earlier chapel.

The Torre Normanna in Collarmele was built in the 13th century and remains in good condition. The remains of the ancient castle of Cituro are a separate matter: only a few ruins remain.

Fountain Routes and Excursions

The eight fountains are set in natural surroundings and connected by paved or asphalted paths that can be used on foot, by bicycle or by car. This makes them different from a single church or tower: both the connections between the fountains and your choice of transport are part of planning a visit. The information serves different purposes when planning your trip: Forca Caruso describes how to reach Collarmele, while the paths between the fountains offer several ways to get around.

A Regular Date in July

The feast of the patron saints Santa Felicita and the Seven Holy Children is held in Collarmele every year on 9 and 10 July. As an annual event, it differs from the historic buildings. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the dates for your travel year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Prezza, Sant'Eusanio Forconese, Collettara, Barrea, Vittorito, Magliano De' Marsi, Lucoli, Pescocostanzo

For the broader travel overview: L-Aquila.