Discover Atessa: Art, Churches and Landscapes

Atessa combines art, sacred buildings, paths through hilly landscapes and a regional speciality to create a diverse destination. Those looking for a mix of culture, nature and culinary tradition during their holiday will find a range of options for planning their days: a museum visit, historic churches, a scenic trail and a festival centred around Fico Secco Reale.

Discover Art and Sacred Places

A special cultural attraction is the Museo Sassu. Its collection comprises 210 works dating from 1927 to the final decade of the 20th century. The museum tour is located in the historic Palazzo Ferri, thereby combining art with historic architecture. For a holiday with varied interests, the museum visit can easily be planned as a separate cultural activity alongside Atessa’s churches.

The Chiesa di Santa Croce is one of Atessa’s oldest churches and is located in the heart of the historic centre of Tixa. The Chiesa di San Rocco features a single-nave interior decorated in the late Baroque style with gilded stucco work and polychrome altars. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio houses a statue of Saint Anthony of Padua dated 1746, created by Filippo Tenaglia from Orsogna. The church itself was built from the 17th century onwards.

The history of individual buildings also forms part of the town’s cultural character. The former Chiesa di San Pietro houses the permanent exhibition “I Colori dell’Acqua”. According to historical sources, the Chiesa di San Domenico, also known as Chiesa del Santissimo Rosario, was founded in the 13th century at the instigation of King Charles I of Anjou. The Ecomuseo Riexperia is located beneath the central Piazza Oberdan, opposite the multi-storey car park on Via della Circonvallazione. It is on the second floor of a multifunctional building.

Trails with Views of Hilly Landscapes and the Sea

Percorso 501 begins at the Convento S. Pasquale in Vallaspra in the Atessa area. Its section in Atessa runs alongside a wooded area and passes close to badland areas considered to be the sources of the Osento River. It also offers sweeping views of the hilly landscapes below and the Adriatic Sea. Those who enjoy combining culture and activity during their holiday can make the trail a separate focus alongside the museums and churches.

In the wider area around Atessa, the Sentiero dei Paladini also follows ancient paths to the megalithic walls of Monte Pallano. This provides a choice of different ways to enjoy the outdoors: Percorso 501 combines woodland, badland areas and views, while the Sentiero dei Paladini links historic paths with a megalithic destination.

Regional Speciality and Festival Tradition

Fico Secco Reale is part of the area’s character. It is produced in the hilly areas of the municipalities of Atessa, Torino di Sangro, Archi, Perano and Paglieta in the province of Chieti. The Festa de li Squacciafichere is celebrated in Atessa every year in August and honours Fico Secco Reale, a recognised Slow Food Presidio. Those wishing to include regional products and local traditions in their trip will find a clear thematic focus here.

Find the Right Holiday Apartment Based on Your Travel Focus

When looking for a holiday apartment in Atessa, you can first consider which experiences should shape your trip. For culture enthusiasts, the Museo Sassu collection, the tour in Palazzo Ferri and the various churches are the main attractions. If landscapes and activity are more important, the starting point of Percorso 501 in Vallaspra, the woodland section, the badland areas and the views of the Adriatic Sea provide concrete points of reference for planning. Families with different interests can use this to create varied days combining art, history, regional flavours and nature.

For further searches for destinations on this platform, you can find Colledimezzo, Scerni, Villa Santa Maria, Pretoro, Arielli, Castiglione Messer Marino, Pennapiedimonte and Torrevecchia Teatina here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chieti.