Fontecchio between village history and nature

Fontecchio brings together a medieval town centre, historic buildings and nature-related attractions. If you are looking for a hotel in Fontecchio, you can first consider which of these themes is especially important for your trip. The village’s history is reflected in its townscape and individual buildings; the Oasi offers a distinct focus with wildlife areas and educational trails.

A historic town centre

The old town centre of Fontecchio retains typical features of a medieval village. Its history goes back further, too: it was established on Roman remains and developed for defensive purposes. Roman relics and its medieval character thus belong to successive periods. A look at Fontecchio therefore takes in not only individual buildings but also the development of the town centre itself.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace was built in the town centre between 1080 and 1095. Its interior has a Latin-cross floor plan, small side chapels and a dome. Together, these features describe both its overall layout and its architectural structure. For travellers interested in architectural history, the church is a tangible point of reference for the town’s past.

Clock tower and photographic view of the region

The Torre dell'Orologio dates from the 15th century. Its clock face is divided into six hours and has a single hand; the mechanism moves only the hour hand. The tower’s historical context is thus paired with a distinctive detail of its clock mechanism. The tower also houses a permanent photographic exhibition about places in the L'Aquila area before and after the 2009 earthquake. It turns the focus to the recent past and complements the architectural history with a photographic comparison.

The Festa di San Biagio is an annual event in the town, celebrated on 3 February. If you would like to visit Fontecchio specifically for this occasion, check the dates for your travel year before making plans around it. This allows you to include the festival as a distinct consideration in your travel schedule.

The Oasi and trails around Fontecchio

The Oasi di Fontecchio is located in the historic centre of Fontecchio, in the heart of the Parco Naturale Regionale Sirente Velino. The Oasi Naturale di Fontecchio includes a visitor centre, wildlife areas, a medieval tannery, a wildlife care and rehabilitation centre, a water education trail and a picnic area. Nature, education and history come together here. Guided visits to the wildlife areas and educational trails are available. If you are planning a guided visit, confirm the specific visiting time in advance.

A route through Fontecchio follows the River Aterno and crosses the Ponte delle Pietre, which probably dates from Roman times. The bridge thus links a riverside route with a historic structure whose dating is considered probable.

A challenging route from Fontecchio to the Pagliare is 3 kilometres long and climbs 500 metres. It follows the historic connecting road between the Borgo di Fontecchio and the Pagliare, a small mountain village. When choosing this hike, the distance is not the only factor to consider: the elevation gain and its challenging rating should also be part of your planning.

Discover more destinations: Collepietro, Cappadocia, Lucoli, Scurcola Marsicana, Ovindoli, Barisciano, Foce, Assergi

For the broader travel overview: L-Aquila.