Controguerra: Hills, Churches and Trails

Controguerra brings together churches and historic buildings with a rural townscape and trails through the hills. If you’re looking for a hotel in Controguerra, these different themes can help guide your trip planning: sacred art, rural architecture and outdoor activities each offer a distinct focus. The town’s features range from buildings dating back to the 16th century to a mountain biking trail that connects three municipalities.

Art and Architectural History

The Oratorio dell’Immacolata Concezione, also known as Madonna della Cona, is a 16th-century church. It preserves a fresco of the Virgin Mary with Saint Augustine kneeling and Benedict the Abbot standing. The image covers the entire wall behind the altar. The contrasting poses of the two saints are among the specific details you can look for when viewing the fresco if you’re interested in sacred art.

The Chiesa di San Francesco also tells the story of several building phases: the church and its adjoining modest monastery were rebuilt in the 1920s and 1930s on the site of an older Franciscan monastery. Engineer Benedetto Sorge designed the plans; the new church and monastery were inaugurated in 1933. The Chiesa di San Benedetto Abate marks a more recent historical turning point. The 2016 earthquake in central Italy severely damaged it. Following restoration and safety work, it reopened to the public in 2019.

The Palazzo Ducale degli Acquaviva was built in the 16th century by the noble family of the Dukes of Atri. The Palazzo Comunale offers another perspective on the town through its present-day use: the Enoteca Comunale and the Circolo Giovani e Anziani di Controguerra are located there.

Several Pinciaie, the traditional earthen houses of rural civilization, are among the traces of rural building practices. One can be seen near the town center on Via Circonvallazione Nord, at the entrance to Vicolo delle Siciliane. It is in relatively good condition and has been reinforced with brick structures. This connects the broader townscape with a specific building.

Hills and Trails

Controguerra’s gentle hills are characterized by extensive vineyards and olive groves, with views stretching to the coast. The landscape and buildings offer different ways to shape your trip: you can focus on historic buildings or make the hills and their trails the centerpiece.

The Percorso delle 3C mountain biking trail connects Controguerra, Colonnella and Corropoli. It covers 30 kilometers of unpaved paths. Both the stated distance and the route through three municipalities are relevant details; the information describes a cycling route, not a loop confined to the town.

For a walk, a Nordic walking trail leads from Controguerra to the hamlet of San Venanzo; it takes about an hour and a half on foot. Another option is the Via Reale: its longest still-accessible section descends to the hamlet of Pazzano, down to Lago Crescenzi, then follows the San Giovanni valley to the hamlet of San Savino di Nereto. The approximate walking time to San Venanzo and the route described through named places and landscape areas offer two different starting points.

The Museo della Cantina Montori also adds insight into the town’s history through the story of a business. Among the museum’s historic pieces is an imposing Swiss wooden wine press from the early 20th century. This offers a different focus for considering your interests than the sacred buildings or trails: here, a specific object from the company’s history takes center stage.

Discover more destinations: Tortoreto, Civitella Del Tronto, Alba Adriatica, Guardia Vomano, Silvi, Cellino Attanasio, Silvi Paese, Villa Rosa

For the broader travel overview: Teramo.