Making the most of your visit to Sulmona: day trips in the car
Here are 8 different circular driving tours – all starting from and then finishing back in Sulmona. They are of different lengths and the total time to complete them will depend on how often you choose to park up and how much time you spend at each stop. The idea, however, is that each route is achievable in a day.
These routes are especially good for those with limited time and/or mobility, or for bad weather days. You’ll get a wonderful impression of our beautiful Abruzzo from the comfort of your car!
We recommend that you plot them out on your map or use your SatNav before you set off and take a good guide book with you too. We have not included any opening hours or accessibility information so fingers crossed you will be able to visit everything that interests you.
1. Medieval Abruzzo – following in the footsteps of Celestino V
Badia
To see: The Abbey of S. Spirito al Morrone, the archeological zone with the remains of the Roman temple of Ercole Curino and the 13th-century hermitage of Celestino V
Corfinio
To see: The 13th-century Basilica of S. Pelino
Popoli
To see: The 14th-century Taverna Caldora and the Sorgenti del Pescara nature reserve
Castiglione a Casauria
To see: The 12th-century Abbey of S. Clemente a Casauria
Manoppello
To see: The 13th-century church of S. Maria Arabona
Serramonacesca
To see: The 11th-century church of S. Liberatore a Majella
Roccamorice
To see: The 13th-century hermitage di S. Bartolomeo
2. The Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo
Anversa degli Abruzzi
To see: The Gole del Sagittario nature reserve
Villalago
To see: The Lake of S. Domenico
Scanno
To see: Lake Scanno
Villetta Barrea
To see: La Camosciara nature reserve
Pescasseroli
To see: Visit the picturesque town
3. The Parco Nazionale della Majella – itinerary 1
Cansano
To see: The archeological area ‘Ocriticum’ from the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC
Bosco di S. Antonio
To see: The ancient beech forest
Pescocostanzo
To see: The 15th-century church of Santa Maria del Colle
Rivisondoli
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Piano delle Cinque Miglia
To see: Drive through the wonderful countryside
Rocca Pia
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Pettorano sul Gizio
To see: The 12th-century Castello Cantelmo and the Monte Genzana nature reserve
4. The Parco Nazionale della Majella – itinerary 2
Pacentro
To see: The Castello Caldora
Passo S. Leonardo
To see: Drive through the wonderful countryside
Roccacaramanico
To see: Visit the picturesque village
S. Eufemia a Majella
To see: Visit the picturesque village and the nature reserve of Lama Bianca
Caramanico Terme
To see: Visit the picturesque town and the Orfento nature reserve
Manoppello
To see: The 13th-century church of S. Maria Arabona
Serramonacesca
To see: The 11th-century church of S. Liberatore a Majella
Castiglione a Casauria
To see: The 12th-century Abbey of S. Clemente a Casauria
Popoli
To see: The 14th-century Taverna Caldora and the Sorgenti del Pescara nature reserve
5. The Parco Nazionale della Majella – itinerary 3
Cansano
To see: The archeological area ‘Ocriticum’ from the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC
Campo di Giove
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Palena
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Taranta Peligna
To see: The Grotte del Cavallone caves and the Lama dei Peligni nature reserve
Fara S. Martino
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Guardiagrele
To see: Visit the town’s historic eentre
Lanciano
To see: Visit the town’s historic centre
Fossacesia
To see: The church of S. Giovanni in Venere, Punta Penna lighthouse and the Trabocchi fishing platforms
6. Calascio
Popoli
To see: The 14th-century Taverna Caldora and the Sorgenti del Pescara nature reserve
Bussi sul Tirino
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Capestrano
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Ofena
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Castel del Monte
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Calascio
To see: The-12th century Rocca Calascio
S. Stefano di Sessanio
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Piana di Navelli
To see: Drive though the wonderful countryside
7. Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso
Popoli
To see: The 14th-century Taverna Caldora and the Sorgenti del Pescara nature reserve
Bussi sul Tirino
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Capestrano
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Piana di Navelli
To see: Drive though the wonderful countryside
L’Aquila
To see: Visit the ancient city. (Note that following the devastating earthquake of 2009, much of the historic centre of L’Aquila is still inaccessible).
Assergi
To see: Take the cable car up to Campo Imperatore with a view of the Gran Sasso mountain
Castelli
To see: The ceramics museum and workshops
8. The Parco Nazionale Sirente-Velino
Raiano
To see: The Gole di S. Venanzo nature reserve and the hermitage of S. Venanzo
Castel Vecchio Subequo
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Gagliano Aterno
To see: The 12th-century Castle & Convent
Castel d’Ieri
To see: The archeological area
Tione degli Abruzzi
To see: The “Pagliare di Tione” shepherds’ huts
Fontecchio
To see: The 11th-century convent of the Cappuccini friars
S. Demetrio né Vestini
To see: Visit the picturesque village
Grotte di Stiffe
To see: The underground cave complex
Prata d’Asidonia
To see: The archeological remains of the pre-Roman village of Peltinium
Bominaco
To see: The churches of S. Bominaco, S. Maria Assunta and S. Pellegrino with 12th-century frescoes
Altopiano di Navelli
To see: Drive through the wonderful countryside
These itineraries were inspired by and translated from material provided kindly by the Albergo Stella in Sulmona: www.albergostella.info