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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.

Moving away from Salle, on the right, a few meters from the trail entrance, you will find a spectacular panoramic point of the bridge and the Orte gorges.

The place is located on the Lavino cycle path, therefore, it is an excellent stop before reaching the park of the same name.

San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore and Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore (Lombardy, Varese province) are places with the longest name that I have come across in Italy.

Panoramic points, from which there are views even of peaks located dozens of kilometers away, are the real pearl of Abruzzo.

In Sale there are several panoramic points from which there is a wide, expansive view of the nearby peaks of the Apennines. However, all of them are located on the outskirts of the town. It is worth moving away from its center to enjoy them.

A cycleable climb that offers panoramic views from the sea to the mountains

The church of San Tommaso, of the natural pink color of the local stone, is located in the heart of the Majella National Park, in the hamlet of San Tommaso.