| I Borghi Nascosti Featuring the Villages of
Fossa, San Panfilo, Villa S. Angelo, Casentino, Tussillo, Filetto.
The “Borghi Nascosti" villages represent a chosen lifestyle revolving around Italian quality of life, relaxation, and beautiful rural locations. It is perfect for those that are looking for a retreat from the velocity and intensity of modern-day life. All this within an hour and twenty minutes from the capital city of Italy, Rome.
The medieval hamlets representing "I Borghi Nascosti" are enchanted little gems perched along the hillsides of beautiful countryside in central Italy, where time has passed without changing the basic traditions, locations, habits and foods of the locals during the course of the centuries.
The “Borghi Nascosti" are the idea setting for those that view holiday time as a moment to slow fast-paced rhythms of life, and want to couple this with a one-stop shop, low-cost package that delivers a restructured house, furnished and ready for immediate use.
Abruzzo – A Region for All Tastes:
Abruzzo is renowned as one of the greenest
European regions with its four Natural parks.
Wander round and view the artistic treasures,
enjoy the culinary delights, participate
in infinite activities such as horse riding
and skiing, go on nature trails where you
can see bears, wild boars, wolves, eagles,
and the like.
Enjoy the short distance between the mountains
and the sea. Enjoy all four seasons in Abruzzo,
the summer sea, the skiing in the colder
months, the long, warm days in the spring,
and the autumn walks around the hills and
the lakes. The lakes in the area offer a
range of sports and activities for all ages
for example hiring boats, canoeing, rafting
and fishing.
Abruzzo is in central Italy and borders
on the Adriatic Sea. It is situated between
the regions of Lazio, Molise and Le Marche.
Abruzzo has some of the Italian peninsula’s
highest mountains, with the Gran Sasso towering
up to 2912 metres and the Majella some 2793
metres. It also has an infinite variety
of lovely seaside locations, and numerous
countryside areas.
Our suggested accommodation is in the province
of L’Aquila, a short drive from the
regional capital (called L’Aquila
too.) Depending on the length of your stay,
we suggest you see as much as you can of
the region and take in all the natural beauty,
cultural heritage and activities it offers.
Staying with us means enjoying a wide range
of hospitality, starting from the Monastero
Santo Spirito to the self-catering apartments
we have on offer. Guests are welcomed and
looked after with the sleepy warmth that
characterizes Italian services.
A vacation in Abruzzo means spending time
away from home in a natural, genuine and serene
atmosphere. The beauty of the environment,
the rediscovery of ancient traditions, the
many activities and the mouth-watering foods
and wines are the principal ingredients of
a well-known and appreciated hospitality.
Location of the Villages:
The villages are situated in the heart of the region of Abruzzo, which is renowned as a holiday location in Italy because its abundance of countryside and park land. More than a fifth of the land of the region is designated to protected park areas, including those encompassed by the Abruzzo National Park, the Gran Sasso, the Silente-Velina National Park and the Majella National Park.
Buyers of homes here can benefit from lowcost airlines arriving at two airports all within less than an hour and a half's drive. In addition, there are ski slopes, beaches, a lake and historical sites nearby. The borgos (Italian medieval villages) are a short drive from Italy's capital city - Rome - and close to the renowned regions of Umbria and Tuscany. In the village, homeowners can enjoy the traditional qualities of everyday Italian life, including the healthy and tasty Mediterranean diet, temperate weather, oft-blue skies, and warm and friendly locals. All the villages are situated in enchanted locations along the valley that runs up to the regional headquarter of L’Aquila. The town of Abruzzo is also an important attraction, with its infinite number of delicatessens, restaurants, bars, boutiques, churches and museums, as well as an open air market every day. The borgos are protected by Mount Ocre, on whose feet they are mainly laid out. The villages are famous for their artistic, historical and cultural heritage.
Things to Do in the Area:
5 minutes to the Stiffe caves (Grotte di Stiffe underground caves)
10 minutes from the town of Aquila, the regional headquarter of the region of Abbruzzo, a thriving, bustling, vibrant 70,000-strong town which boast infinite fashion boutiques, wine shops, delicatessens, restaurants, and an open-air market every day.
15 minutes to the lake (Lago San Demetrio)
20 minutes to the ski slopes (http://www.campofelice.it and
(www.ovindolimagnola.it)
40 minutes from the beach.
Travel:
1.20 minutes to Rome (Ryanair-serviced airport).
1.20 minutes to Pescara (Ryanair--serviced airport).
Rentals and Sales Villages:
The houses we sell and rent in the villages we work with are selected first and foremost for the interest and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the locals in joining the sustainable tourism project we are involved with, but not less importantly because of their role and representation as important historical and cultural locations.
All the villages in question enjoy spectacular
views and are a stone’s throw from
the capital of Italy, Rome, and all its
magnificent attractions. At the same time
they allow the visitor and the homeowner
to enjoy the beauty of spending time in
a location where time has stood still, in
all its beauty and simplicity.
The houses we sell and rent are part of
a sustainable tourism project aimed at introducing
foreigners to the delights of Abruzzo. The
prices are among the most attractive you
will find in Italy, and the reason is two-fold.
First and foremost, we want buyers and renters
to benefit from their involvement in the
project. Secondly, we want to encourage
and attract as many visitors as possible
to the delights of Abuzzo.
The villages we sell and rent houses in
are the following:
San Panfilo D’Ocre:
Part of the local city council of Ocre,
which has 1,059 inhabitants and is made
up of the villages of San Panfilo, San Martino
D’Ocre, Valle and Cavaletto. The village
is situated 13 kilometers from L’Aquila,
and the website of the local city council
is: www.comunediocre.it.
The village is situated in the national
park of Sirente – Velino. Its annual
food festivity (the chestnut festivity)
is held on the last Sunday in October.
Historically the village had an important
position in the medieval period through
to the early years of the 1500s thanks to
its strategic location in the valley. Of
particular interest is a fortified castle
village dating back to the XIV century.
Another important historical element is
the convent of San Angelo, built in the
1200s on an imposing hill overlooking the
valley underneath. The convent contains
an important fresco painting in its chapel
cloisters dating back to the 1660s.
Villa S. Angelo and Tussillo:
The two villages of Villa S. Angelo
and Tussillo are part of the local city
council of Villa S.Angelo. Of particular
note in the village are the friendly locals
and Santino’s restaurant in the Villa
S.Angelo central square. Santino’s
mushroom and black truffle sauce for fresh
pasta are renowned with the locals, who
will travel from afar in the area to dine
there. The local city council offers its
residents free internet access in the multimedia
room (on the central square), and organizes
a recreation centre for the village children
in the summer. The two villages have 445
inhabitants and arelocated approximately
17 kilometers from L’Aquila. The village’s
heritage as one of the principal manufacturing
centres of saffron is reflected in the important
architecture. It is built on a hilly relief
on the southern limit of the L’Aquila
basin, close to the Aterno river. It is
fan-shaped and in its centre there are seven
nineteenth-century palazzos. A valuable
fifteenth-century processional cross is
preserved in the thirteenth-century parish
church devoted to S.Michele in the village.
Festivities include the commemoration of
the Madonna in May, a fish-food based festivity
in July, and a local event that includes
street food and music in August.
Carapelle Calvisio:
A beautiful mountain village with a breathtaking view and very particular architecture. The village is contained in a medieval wall, and is characterized by typical stone portals which embellish the quaint palazzo. The beautiful church of S. Francesco d’Assisi with its façade dating back to the 1500s and baroque decorations inside stands proud in the centre. A visitor to the village can make the trip to the sanctuary of San Pancrazio, just a few kilometers from the town. The village of Carapelle Calvisio has 107 inhabitants and is 32 kilometers from the town of L’Aquila. Festivities include that of San Pancrazio in May, and the festivity of the immigrant in August.
Fossa:
The village of Fossa is thought to have
been built on the ruins of the mythological
town of Aveia. Fossa is first mentioned
in the social chronacles of the time in
the seventeenth century. It was constantly
battling with the nearby-town of Ocre during
those years over border issues. It was later
a feud of the Italian aristocratic families
Colonna and Barberini.
Fossa is located in the Subequana valley,
with its intensely panoramic views. The
village has an important archaeological
site in which a sixteenth century necropolis
has been discovered.
Of interest in the village for the tourist
is the Chiesa dell’Assunta church
and the Palazzo Bonanni aristocratic home.
Also worth mentioning is the church of S.
Maria di Cryptas, built in the eighteenth
century in Gothic style, garnished with
an extraordinary cycle of frescos.
The village is called the Stonehenge of
Italy because of stone structures put in
place by the ancient Vestini tribe between
1,000-800 BC.
The Convent of Sant'Angelo d'Ocre, a few
minutes' drive from Fossa, is also a must
for visitors. Founded by Benedictine monks
in 1242, it is first viewed when driving
around a corner of a hilly lane. Its sheer
beauty simply takes the breath away. It
is perched on top of a promontory and dominates
the lower valley from this position, and
its foundations melt away into the reddish-gold
carved stone that supports it. Inside, it
has a Romanesque cloister and a refectory
with a stunning view of the valley. Its
walls bear the frescos of local artists.
It is the perfect place for a relaxing,
quiet visit thanks to its panoramic hillside
setting. Also well worth visiting is the
beautiful Monastero di Santo Spirito d'Ocre,
a monastery dating back to the 200s that
is now being redeveloped as a luxury events
venue. Further up Mount Ocre still, perched
on its tip, are the stunning ruins of the
Ocre Castle containing an entire village
and a 14th century church. Legend has it
that Saint Massimo, the patron saint of
nearby town Aquila, was killed here. The
Castello D'Ocre was rebuilt after being
destroyed by the Aquilani tribe in 1280
and today stands testament to the glory
and riches of times gone by. It is also
the perfect point from which to start a
relaxing walk and soak in the history and
the unbelievable view of the whole valley.
Festivities include a local wine festival
in July and a steak festivity in August.
Casentino (in Sant'Eusanio Forconese):
A sleepy quiet village nestled in the
hill which soaks up the warmth of the sun
every day. This is for those that want to
get away from all, but at the same time
to be close to a bustling village like Sant'Eusanio
Forconese and also to a larger, lively town
like L’Aquila. The town of Sant'Eusanio
Forconese has about 450 inhabitants, whilst
the sleepy village of Casentino has about
40.
Sant'Eusanio Forconese was in the past called
"Cinque Ville", or “Five
Villages” from the number of the villages
on the territory. The village in the medieval
times had an important castle. From 1663
it was a feud of the aristocratic Barberini
family. Of particular note is
the Church of Madonna del Castello, which
was built from age-old material deriving
from the ruins of the castle. Tradition
has it that those that put their heads out
of the little window in the crypt are protected
from migraine headaches in the future.
It is located about 18 kilometers from L’Aquila.
ACCOMODATION:
For your visit, we can suggest a typical local hotel so that you can enjoy the beauty and magic of living as the locals do.
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