Τα 20 κορυφαία αξιοθέατα στην Πεσκάρα

The Cathedral of Saints Valentine and Damian (real name) in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (PE) is not only the spiritual center of the village, but also a tangible testimony to its millennia-old history. Its roots date back to around the year 1000, when the village, initially known as Castrum Petrae, became the burial place (and subsequent transfer of the bodies) of the Holy Martyrs Valentine and Damian, elevating the site to a pilgrimage destination and decreeing its name change. The current building is the result of a long process of destruction and rebirth, typical of Abruzzo towns. The most crucial moment was the great Maiella earthquake of 1706, which devastated much of the area and necessitated almost complete reconstruction. It was following this earthquake that the church took on its most distinctive character. The interior, in fact, is a magnificent example of sumptuous 18th-century Baroque, the result of restoration work carried out between 1777 and 1791. Here, the wide single nave unfolds beneath a richly decorated barrel vault, punctuated by pilasters with Corinthian capitals, creating an atmosphere of great elegance and sumptuousness. In stark contrast to this interior grace, the exterior boasts a powerful salient façade flanked by twin bell towers. This end block was added only more recently (between 1920 and 1931), designed by architect Antonio Liberi, giving the cathedral the monumental appearance we know today. Guardian of the remains of the patron saints and a symbol of the village's resilience after natural disasters, the cathedral perfectly embodies the faith and history of San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore.

If you go beyond the end of the paved road, after the telecommunications facilities of the blockhouse, you'll find a paved road that ends on another stretch of gravel road, leading to a sort of small terrace, where you can admire a 360° panorama. A short distance away, you can see a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows... from there, you'll find trails for hiking or, for a while, for a gravel bike ride.

The Vallone bridge represents a connection between the paths that lead to the upper part of the Orfento Valley and the circular ones that start from the Caramanico visitor center.

Beautiful trails in a magical Valley! Please register for free online at the Caramanico Terme Visitor Center and follow the signs and markings. There is a trail that can ONLY be done ONE-WAY! Let's all respect the rules. Thank you

Safeguarded and very well maintained place. Worth a trip.

end of the blockhaus trail, wonderful view

because it's a nice walk, there's a bit of a climb, at least that's how we old folks see it...but up there a beautiful view of the Maiella awaits us...and some excellent food at the Maiella in tavola restaurant...what more could you want?!

A stop to the Madonnina. The statue is located at 2,000 meters on the Blockaus. For mountain enthusiasts and visitors to the Majella, it was a stop in a place of peace and meditation. The Madonnina was built at his own expense by a great lover of our mountains, a small entrepreneur in the earthmoving and asphalt sector, the late Mario Tracanna from Roccamontepiano It must also be said that Mario Tracanna, after having obtained all the authorizations, starting from those who would detain its custody, unfortunately died in 2017 in a terrible accident on the ski slopes. Since then and after its inauguration with a blessing and consecration, it has also become the shrine of all mountain lovers who have lost their lives here. A place of devotion and spirituality where every year, Mario's friends celebrate an outdoor mass with a short hike on foot, from the Rifugio Pomilio to the Madonnina. If you are a true cyclist you have to reach the Madonnina... there is also a breathtaking view from above.