Campli: Art, History and Trails

Campli combines archaeological history with sacred art and distinctive buildings. It also offers trekking and climbing opportunities in the Valle degli Scoiattoli, as well as an annual porchetta festival. If you are looking for a hotel in Campli, you can first consider whether you would like to get to know the town primarily through its sacred architecture, archaeology, outdoor activities, or porchetta tradition.

Sacred Buildings and Art in Campli

The Santuario della Scala Santa was established on January 21, 1772, by a papal bull issued by Pope Clement XIV. The sanctuary contains six paintings depicting the Passion of Christ. There are also 28 wooden steps, which are climbed on one’s knees as an act of penance. The paintings and ritual offer insight into different aspects of the town’s religious heritage.

At the Cattedrale di Santa Maria in Platea, the bell tower stands out for its octagonal structure in the Lombard style. Master Antonio da Lodi created this section at the end of the 15th century. The Chiesa di San Francesco houses an altarpiece dated 1510 and attributed to the school of Cola dell’Amatrice. On either side of the back wall are two niches: one with a round arch and one with a pointed arch. Both are decorated with fresco cycles from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Casa del Medico has a courtyard with a double loggia made of travertine from the Marche region and bricks. The loggia is supported by round columns, whose capitals are elaborately decorated. This brings together different architectural details in Campli: an octagonal section of the bell tower, the arches of the niches, and a loggia with decorated capitals.

Campovalano and Archaeological History

The Museo archeologico nazionale di Campli opened in 1988 to house finds from the Campovalano necropolis. Excavations there began in 1967. Graphic and spatial reconstructions illustrate the development of burial rituals in the Campovalano community within the Middle Adriatic, or Picene, cultural area. Thus, both the finds from the necropolis and the depiction of the rituals and their cultural context are part of Campli’s archaeological story.

Since April 21, 2026, the Museo archeologico nazionale di Campli has been closed to the public. Before your trip, check whether it has since reopened.

Trekking and Climbing in the Valle degli Scoiattoli

The Valle degli Scoiattoli lies a few minutes south of Campli’s historic center and offers trekking opportunities. CAI trails 432 and 425 lead from Roiano through the Valle degli Scoiattoli to Forchetta. The tourist route is of moderate difficulty and takes three hours; check local conditions before setting out. In addition to the route description, there are climbing crags for single-pitch, multipitch, and alpine climbing. This means that planning information covers both a route with a stated duration and different forms of climbing.

Porchetta Festival and Preparation

The Italic Porchetta Festival takes place every year in the week after August 15. Visitors can sample roast porchetta with local vegetables, local wine, and Campli soda. The preparation process is also described in detail: pork weighing no more than 100 kilograms is deboned, salted, and left to rest. It is then tied by hand, blanched with herbs and spices from the nearby Monti Gemelli, and slowly cooked in a wood-fired oven. In this way, the festival brings together tasting and a specific culinary tradition.

Discover more destinations: Ornano Grande, Sant'omero, Colleluccio, Silvi, Ancarano, Silvi Paese, Intermesoli, Civitella Del Tronto

For the broader travel overview: Teramo.