Amatrice between Culture, Nature and Local Flavours

A trip to Amatrice can focus on different things: architectural history, landscapes, trails or regional products. The Conca Amatriciana lies in the heart of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Its landscape includes forests of centuries-old trees, streams, waterfalls with clear water and free-roaming animals. Culture, nature and local traditions can therefore be incorporated into your travel plans to suit a range of interests.

Art and Architectural History in Amatrice and Retrosi

The Church of San Francesco and its adjoining monastery are located in the historic centre of the municipality of Amatrice. The complex dates from the 14th to 15th centuries and features a Romanesque-Gothic design. The church’s features include a single-nave interior, a semi-polygonal apse and 14th- and 15th-century frescoes. Its floor plan, apse and frescoes offer tangible points of interest if you are interested in sacred architecture.

The Chapel of the Icona Passatora is in Retrosi, a rural chapel and shrine overlooking the Monti della Laga. The shrine was built at the end of the 15th century on the site of a votive chapel that had already existed in the 13th century. The votive image of the Madonna and the other frescoes are attributed to the Maestro della Madonna della Misericordia and Dionisio Cappelli. This place offers a long history as a shrine as well as specific art-historical attributions.

Landscapes, Views and Trails

The Oasi Orie Terme is a nature park in Configno, a hamlet of Amatrice. It covers 18 hectares and is home to 22 fallow deer and 12 red deer living freely. During visits, a 3-kilometre trail leads through the Oasi. A local guide accompanies visitors and tells them the history of the place. The guided tour thus combines a walk through the nature park with an account of its history.

The Big Bench 246 offers a different view of the landscape: it stands in an orchard at an altitude of 1,000 metres and affords a 360-degree view of the Monti della Laga and the Conca Amatriciana. For planning outdoor activities, there are also hiking trails of varying difficulty. Trails in the Amatrice area can be used on foot and, in some places, by bicycle or on horseback. You can also choose local sections of the Sentiero Italia in the Amatrice area. The range of trails and ways to explore them offers several ways to include nature and landscapes in your trip.

Local Products and Traditions

At the Polo del Gusto e della Tradizione Amatriciana, you can sample local products. In Torrita, a nearby hamlet of Amatrice, the Casa delle Donne di Amatrice e Frazioni offers workshops in ceramics, loom weaving and cooking. Regional experiences therefore range from tastings to craft and culinary workshops.

The Sagra degli Spaghetti all’Amatriciana traditionally usually takes place on the last weekend of August. If you are planning to attend the festival as a specific reason for your trip, check the dates for your chosen year.

Discover more destinations: Santa Maria, Castel di Tora, Tarano, Cottanello, Apoleggia, Labro, Santa Rufina, Castel San Pietro

For the wider travel overview: Rieti.