Geographically consisted of four big terrain individuality – the Majella, broad and compact calcareous upland, the morrone, the Porrara and the Pizzi Mountains – it’s a National Park that for geographical position ( totally bathed in the Mediterranean Sea) for the harshness, the vastness and tje majesty ( more than 60 mountains of which 30 overcomes 2.000 meters , among them the Amaro Mount, 2793 meters, the second top of the Appennino; the Acquaviva Mount, 2737 meters; thw Focalone Mount, 2676 meters; the Rotondo Mount, 2656 meters; the Macellaro Mount, 2646 meters; Pesco Falcone, 2546 meters; Cima delle Murelle, 2598 meters) for the rigour and the climatic mutability, it’s certainly one of a kind and it contains inside in large parts (widelands) showing specific wild nature aspects (wildland) the most valuable and rare part of national treasures of biodiversity, of European and international importance.

Placed to the left of the high course of the river Sangro and included in the National Park of the Majella, Roccaraso lays down at the centre of the Plateau of the Cinquemiglia and for centuries it was crossroads for the transhumance and the trades between North and South. Probably of the Roman age, the archeological evidence testifies settlements already from V and VI century b.C.; in fact the graves and the discovered objects, make it possible to compare to those well known of the Aufidena great acropolis and of the peligno’s territory.

You should visit the Church of Saint Rocco, erected in 1656, like a votive action of the citizens that survived to the plague. Mined and destroyed during the Second World War, the city of Roccaraso was built thanks to the hard work and to the will of residents, much that it reflourished in a few years. Since the early 1900, in fact, the hotel and the landlords started to host the first vacationers that, even more, made that Roccaraso became a tourist destination of first floor.

Pietransieri is a village arised in the Dark Ages and its toponimy shows a Longobardic origin “Pietra Anseri” ( from Ansharius or Anseri). So Pietransieri and Roccaraso were different villages with individual origins and stories, but only in 1811, with an edict of Gioacchino Murat, the village of Pietransieri was aggregated to the Municipality of Roccaraso. Todat the district of Pietransieri is sadly known for the Limmari massacre; on 21 November 1943, 128 civils (for the majority old men, women and children) were killed in reprisal by the Germans in the last war. From 1945 in Pietransieri has been consolidated the custom to celebrate the anniversary of the massacre with a night procession that, the night of the 20 November, starts from the Limmari and comes until the village.

Rivisondoli lays down, on a rocky spur, in the middle of the main plateaus of Abruzzo of high altitude (1320 meters), it has a healty weather and landscapes of extraordinary beauty.

Wherever you turn, your look is fascinated and gratified from the bulk of the Pratello Mount in the wesr; behind his back there is the reassuring and almost protective presence of the Calvario Mount. It’s an important touristic centre, famous for winter sports. In fact it is distant only 5 km from the departure of the ski lifts installations Rivisondoli – Pratello Mount, which connect to the Alto Sangro ski area that which contains 120 km of tracks. The village’s economy is typically touristic, there are various hotel, restourants and business activities.

In the region of the Majors Planteaux of Abruzzo, between huge and quiet pastures underlying the human establishment and the development of the centres rised in these places, to 1400 metres above sea level it’s located Pescocostanzo. An ancient origin centre and place of intensive civilization, it can boast a favourable cultural environment because of the exceptional heritage of renaissance and baroque monuments which demonstrates the extraordinary artistic and cultural case that developed between 1440 and 1700. The artisanal tradition was able to stay alive and to save the heritage of experience, technical capacity, style and quality. The production of the lace, that of the filigree and of the wrought iron, represent a strenght of the local tourist offer. Pescocostanzo knew how to recover the ancient role, by gaining respect like a tourist, art and culture destination, as well as summer and winter residence.

Rocca Pia, given the proximity with Roccaraso and with the skiing facilities od the Pratello Aremogna Mount, is a tourist destination related to the winter sports. In a few minutes you can reach the facilities for the snow’s activities. On the way back you can totally live the quiet atmosphere of the mountain village, located by the road connecting Sulmona with Roccaraso and with the Alto Sangro area. Rocca Pia stands within a close valley. The territory is very broad and almost completely mountain and it also includes almost all the Piano delle Cinquemiglia, that is a level expanse free of settlements, it’s primarily used for the summer grazing, for winter sports and as starting point for interesting excursions toward of the bumps that encloses it. Rocca Pia’s territory shows its typical mountain landscape from Abruzzo, with cliff walls, summits, rills, gorges of erosion, ecc. Its territory, extended until the Piano delle Cinquemiglia, presents particular climatic characteristics caused by the high (1100 metres), as well as natural beauties and specific architectural suggestions, because the village preserve the typical urban aspect of the medieval villages, developed along a transite route. The architecture presents arches, often on the top floor, preserved and visible at the historical buildings located in the centre. The small external staircases (vignale) with the landing covered are really particulars.

The cuisine of the village, like all that of Abruzzo, draws strength and inspiration from the agricultural and pastoral activities practiced for generations, but is also influenced by the traditions of Lazio and Molise, given its position. A simple cuisine, made of poor ingredients from the earth, but which is combined in robust dishes with an intense flavor. Fresh pasta is one of the strengths, among the most typical shapes the maccheroni alla chitarra, thick and very long threads here called carrati, seasoned with the classic ragù with meatballs or alla molinara (or alla mugnaia if you prefer), fili very long seasoned with mutton ragù. Gnocchi are also very popular, along with tacconelli, sagne and tajarille, very thin noodles that are eaten with beans or used in broths. Traditional are also polenta, legume soups, soups with local vegetables such as orapi (mountain spinach) and wild chicory. Sheep meat is the queen of second courses. Here the lamb is cooked in various ways: roast, grilled, or in the typical cheese and ova, cooked slowly with oil, garlic and rosemary and flavored at the end of preparation with cheese, beaten eggs and lemon juice, while the ribs are breaded and baked in the oven. Sheep is also eaten, mainly for ‘rrustelle, that is, kebabs, but sheep are also prepared alla callara or cottora, a stew seasoned with thyme, bay leaf, rosemary, onion and chilli. Porchetta is a must at village festivals, but pork is also eaten stuffed and transformed into sausages, meat and liver, or into salami, loin and hams. Cheeses such as caciocavallo, caciotte, pecorino and seasoned ricotta, but also fresher products such as junks, burrata and scamorze come from the herds of cows, sheep and goats. Among the most traditional desserts there are biscuits such as mostaccioli, amaretti and spumini, but also ferratelle, and then typical holiday preparations such as cicerchiata, frappe and Easter pine cones and sweet pizza, a sponge cake soaked with rum and alchermes filled with creams of various types.

The ski area of Roccaraso is known to be the biggest ski area of the Appennino. Located in the heart of Abruzzoand served by ski lift fast and modern installations, it’s introduced to the skiers like one big ski area: the Roccaraso’s slopes, in fact, are connected to those of the surrounding stations of Rivisondoli, Pescocostanzo in which you can ski with the same skipass, for a total of 110 km of ski slopes. Stunning slopes, great snow standard, modern and functional equipements, a network of complementary facilities and servicies efficient and complete that makes him the winter crown jewel of the Highland and of the entire Abruzzo.

Roccaraso is a tourist destination of the Appennino Abruzzese, in the province of L’Aquila, district of the Major Highlands, it’s not away from the areas of two great National Parks: that storic of the Abruzzo and that of the Majella.

But Roccaraso isn’t only snow: the flowering of springtime, the sunny Highlands in the summer, the explosion of colors in the fall, get to full enjoy of the charm that the nature offer to this territory. Local guides organise wonderful excursions on foot and on horseback, along the valleys or moving up the slopes of the mountains, where often you can run into animals of the typical fauna of the neighbouring Parco della Maiella and National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise (deer, roes, wild boars, hares, foxes) and, with better luck, you can also admire in the distance the beautiful images of the bear and of the Appenine wolf. For those who love peace and serenity and to enjoy the coolness of the 1250 elevation, there are numerous chance of leisure and of entertainment: evenings in the square, cultural and sporting events are planned every day in the beautiful room “Spataro” or at the Ice Rink “Bolino”, that with his 1.600 seating positions represents the crown jewel of the ski equipment, already place of the Italian and Global Championship of Figure wheel skating. During the summer season 2007 was opened an “Adventure Park”, where Indiana Jones’ emulates can feel the thrill of adventure, always still in maximum security.

The living manger of rivisondoli it’s a religious, cultural and folk manifestation of great importance, both in the in connection with the Region of Abruzzo and Italy. In fact the first edition was realised in 1951, repeated every year with greater notoriety. This event take places every year on 5 Jenuary, the child that is chosen every year, is the latest born of the country; the Madonna, is chosen with a specific preselection on 8 December, while, the figure of Saint Joseph is rapresented by a citizen of Rivisondoli.

Pescocostanzo, in an exceptional natural environment, add the proposal for a summer and winter holiday complementing into a district that represents, with the facilities and the receptivities of the neighbors Rivisondoli, Roccaraso and Rocca Pia, the more complete mountain offer of Abruzzo.