Balsorano Nuovo: Culture, Trails and Regional Traditions

Balsorano Nuovo combines sacred art, historical traces and paths leading into a distinctive mountain landscape. Those planning a trip with cultural discoveries and walking excursions will find various points of interest here: in the town center, the Chiesa della Santissima Trinità; in the surrounding highlands, the Eremo di Sant’Angelo; and beyond, trails through the Balsorano area. Regional traditions and the history of pastoral culture also give a stay here its own character.

Churches and Historical Sites in Balsorano

The Chiesa della Santissima Trinità is located in Piazza Scacchi in Balsorano Nuovo and was consecrated in 1939. Its construction is connected with the 1915 Marsica earthquake: the old church was destroyed, and the new church was subsequently built between 1934 and 1937. The statue of San Giorgio is kept inside. On April 23, Balsorano Nuovo celebrates its patron saint, San Giorgio.

The Convento di San Francesco is particularly interesting for its furnishings. It contains a marble high altar with an altar frontal decorated with mother-of-pearl dating from the early 18th century, a wooden statue of Saint Paschal from the 15th century and a crucifix from 1725. The altar balustrade also contains original coats of arms of the Piccolomini-Silveri family from 1600. Those interested in church art and historical details can view several periods in one place here.

Other noteworthy religious buildings are located around Balsorano. The Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie has a cylindrical tower that serves as an apse. About 50 meters away stands a square tower preserved over at least two above-ground floors and containing a vaulted underground room. In the hamlet of Ridotti, the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Sassi dates from the 13th century; it contains a fresco depicting Purgatory from the first half of the 18th century.

Trails to Sant’Angelo and into the Highlands

From the main piazza of Balsorano Nuovo, a path leads toward the Serra Lunga mountains and the Santuario di Sant’Angelo. The Eremo di Sant’Angelo is a cave sanctuary at an elevation of 917 meters above the Vallone di Sant’Angelo. The cave contains three chapels, including the Chapel of the Madonna dello Spirito Santo, with a painting dated May 5, 1533. A walking time of approximately 60 minutes is indicated for the Eremo di Sant’Angelo. The elevation and the specific walking time help visitors deliberately fit an excursion into their daily itinerary.

Another distinctive site is the Cappella di San Giovanni in Località Solagna delle Riconche, at an elevation of 1,000 meters above the hamlets of Collepiano and Case Marconi. Classified as a hiking trail, CAI trail 628 begins in Serra Alta in the municipality of Balsorano, ends in Serra Comune in the municipality of Sora and is 4.8 kilometers long in total. The InCastro route connects Balsorano, San Vincenzo Valle Roveto and Morino with the Zompo Lo Schioppo nature reserve. Depending on the travel plan, short cultural visits and longer excursion ideas can therefore be given different emphasis.

Museum, Park and Local Customs

The Museo della pastorizia is housed in the old railway station building. It presents spontaneous art as well as the activities of shepherds and pastoral communities among the people of the Marsica region over the centuries. The Parco della Rimembranza di Balsorano is located in the center of the settlement area of Balsorano known as the new section, which was built downhill after the 1915 earthquake. These places complement the churches and trails with an insight into everyday history and the development of the town.

Cuisine is also part of the local character. Easter traditions in Balsorano include Piccillat, a twice-risen, orange-flavored sweet pastry made mainly from flour, sugar and lard, as well as Calascinetti: ravioli filled with various cheeses and pepper, with aged Pecorino, cow’s-milk cheese and Grana Padano. For several years, the gastronomic event “Calici e musica sotto le stelle” has taken place on August 10 as part of the San Lorenzo festival at Castello Piccolomini and in the medieval center of Balsorano Vecchio. The statue of Maria SS.ma Assunta is brought to Balsorano Nuovo on August 2 and returned to Balsorano Vecchio on August 15. During the procession of Sant’Antonio Abate, devotional music and singing move through the town’s streets; traditional “cicerocche” are distributed at the same time.

Choose the Right Starting Point

When searching for a holiday apartment, it is worth first deciding on the desired focus. Balsorano Nuovo suits a travel plan in which the Chiesa della Santissima Trinità, Piazza Scacchi, the Convento di San Francesco and paths toward Sant’Angelo play a role. Those more interested in highland trails, chapels or the nature reserve can organize their daily itinerary around the excursion destinations mentioned above. For arrival, it is also relevant that Balsorano is connected to the railway network via the Avezzano–Roccasecca railway line. This makes it possible to coordinate the choice of accommodation with personal cultural, hiking and travel plans without limiting the stay to just one type of experience.

Compare Other Places

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can find Roccacasale, Scurcola Marsicana, Montereale, Pacentro, Poggio Picenze, Castel Del Monte, Ovindoli and Calascio here.

For the higher-level travel overview: L-Aquila.