Private Day Trip to L'Aquila, Spanish Fort, Stiffe Caves and Rocca Calascio

Highlights

• Forte Spagnolo
• Gran Sasso Cable Car
• Castles and Caves

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Rocca Calascio

   1h

   The Castle of Rocca Calascio is a mountaintop fortress or rocca in the municipality of Calascio, in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. At an elevation of around 1,460 metres, the castle is the highest fortress in the Apennines. The ruins are surrounded by an abandoned medieval village, with a few cafes and shops, along with the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà. Built in the 10th century, it served as a strategic military observation point, with towers added later that connected it to other nearby, smaller defensive positions. A significant earthquake in the 18th century destroyed much of the structure, leading the population to relocate to the lower village. The fortress was largely abandoned until it was revitalized in the 1980s, allowing for extensive restoration.

2. 2

   Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio e Porta Santa

   30min

   Santa Maria di Collemaggio is a large medieval church in L'Aquila, central Italy. It was the site of the original Papal Jubilee, a penitential observation devised by Pope Celestine V, who is buried there. The dome of Santa Maria di Collemaggio collapsed in the 1461 L'Aquila earthquake. A wall of the church collapsed in the earthquake that hit L'Aquila on April 6, 2009. In the first post-quake images of the area, the facade of the church still stands behind the restoration scaffolding. Cracks have appeared in some areas of the walls. The most severe damage to the basilica was the roof and dome collapse over the transept and part of the choir. The tomb of Pope Celestine was also damaged. Works for the restoration of the building were concluded in 2017 and since then the church is open to the public.

3. 3

   Forte Spagnolo

   1h

   The Spanish Fort was built as part of a grand project to strengthen the military presence in the territory during the Spanish rule of Southern Italy. Until 2009, it housed the National Museum of Abruzzo. It is possible to visit the paleontological section, which features the skeleton of a Mammoth discovered in the 1950s near the city.

4. 4

   Dall'albergo di Campo Imperatore al Monte Aquila

   1h 30min

   Campo Imperatore is a mountain grassland or alpine meadow formed by a high basin shaped plateau located above Gran Sasso massif, the largest plateau of Apennine ridge. Known as "Little Tibet", it is located in Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Famous for the location of Mussolini's imprisonment and rescue at the Hotel Campo Imperatore. Accessible by car or the Funivia del Gran Sasso (cableway) from Assergi/Fonte Cerreto near L'Aquila.

5. 5

   Grotte di Stiffe

   1h

   The Grotte di Stiffe (Stiffe Caves) are a spectacular active karst resurgence located in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, within the municipality of San Demetrio ne' Vestini. They are considered one of Italy's most important natural attractions, featuring a lively underground river that forms rapid currents and waterfalls.

Before you go

Location