Colonnella: Lanes, history and trails

In Colonnella, the Scalinata connects Via Roma with Piazza del Popolo and is considered a local landmark. The historic centre is also home to the Torre dell’orologio di Colonnella, another landmark; it is near the main square and is thought to date from the Middle Ages. Colonnella also preserves characteristic small squares and narrow lanes, known locally as “rue”. The townscape thus brings together named squares and routes with a distinctive local term for its lanes.

Churches and local architectural styles

The Chiesa dei Santi Cipriano e Giustina was built between 1795 and 1815 by Pietro Maggi and his son Giacinto. The church houses a valuable organ, made in 1833 by Quirino Gennari of Lanciano and his son Gaetano. The church’s construction period and the organ’s year of creation therefore mark different points in the local history of architecture and culture.

Another traditional architectural form is Colonnella’s earth houses. Known as “pencire”, they are built from unfired earth. About 20 can still be found within the municipality. This approximate number refers to the entire municipal area; their local name and building material also make these houses a distinctive cultural subject alongside the church and tower.

Historic structures and landscapes

The two cisterns can also be distinguished by their location and form. The Cisterna Cincolà is on Colle Pianaccio in Contrada San Martino and rises 1.70 metres above ground. The Cisterna Ricci is in Contrada Vibrata, near Villa Ricci, and is entirely underground. Their visible structure and subterranean form provide two very different descriptions of these named sites.

The Fonte Vecchia is thought to be of Roman origin. It includes a spring tunnel about 20 metres long that extends into the hill. Both its uncertain date of origin and the specific form of the tunnel are central to this site. Together with the cisterns, the Fonte Vecchia adds to the buildings and traces of history that distinguish Colonnella.

Trails and views

You can explore historic and natural areas via several trails. The network includes the white Sentiero della Chiusa, the yellow Sentiero dei Calanchi, the orange Sentiero della Fonte, the red Sentiero della Natura, the blue Sentiero dei Laghi e Oasi, the green Sentiero delle Querce, the purple Sentiero dei Tendoni and the brown Sentiero Storico. The trails can be explored on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. Their colours and names distinguish the eight routes; when choosing, you can first consider your preferred way of getting around and then the name of the route.

The landscape also offers views across the entire Apennine range, from the Monti Sibillini through Gran Sasso d’Italia to the Maiella. This is a different focus from the town’s architectural history: here, the broad vista of the named mountain ranges shapes the landscape experience.

When looking for a hotel in Colonnella, you can first decide what matters most: are you mainly interested in the town’s architectural history and streetscape, or do trails and views take priority?

Discover more destinations: Ripattoni, Scerne, Floriano, Nerito, Arsita, Colleranesco, Basciano, Castagneto

For the broader travel overview: Teramo.