Discover Celano: History, Gorges and Mountain Panoramas

Celano combines impressive landscapes with an unusually rich history. Between Serra di Celano, the Le Gole di Celano gorge, churches and historic traces, there are various options for planning your trip. A holiday apartment in Celano can serve as a base for days on which you would like to combine culture, walks and outdoor excursions.

History and Culture in Celano

At Castello Piccolomini, the Collezione Torlonia preserves 184 objects and 344 Roman bronze coins. The collection therefore provides a tangible insight into the history and material culture of the region. Celano’s churches also have their own distinctive features. Santa Maria Valleverde has a library containing around 100,000 old volumes. In the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, clearly visible 15th-century frescoes have been preserved, including the “Madonna con Bambino rampante” by Andrea De Litio, an artist of the Sienese school.

The Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie is considered the only place spared during the siege by Emperor Frederick II and the subsequent destruction of old Celano in 1223. In the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, also known as Chiesa di Sant’Angelo, a relic of Pope Celestine V is kept. Those interested in even older traces can also explore the Paludi di Celano settlement. The prehistoric pile-dwelling village was excavated particularly extensively in Abruzzo and dates from the 17th to the 10th century BC.

Historic Paths and Different Routes

The Celano Historic Trail is divided into three routes: a short, a medium and a long route, each with different levels of difficulty. This allows you to choose the desired tour according to your own daily itinerary without having to commit to a single route option. Red-and-white markings and hand-carved wooden signs provide the waymarking. The trail also passes the remains of the fortification walls that protected the castle of old medieval Celano.

Within the Sentiero Storico di Celano and the Sentiero Storico di Federico II, there is a climbing wall for sport climbing. This allows historic trail experiences to be complemented by a sporting activity. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether you are mainly planning cultural sightseeing, an active day or a combination of different experiences in Celano.

Gorge, Mountain and Landscape

Le Gole di Celano is a gorge in the central Apennines between Celano, Aielli and Ovindoli. In some places, the rock walls are about 2 m apart; at their highest point, they reach up to 200 m. The gorge offers opportunities for walking, trekking and outdoor excursions. The path leads to the section known as “Fonte degli Innamorati”. Access to Le Gole di Celano is limited to free online reservations from 24 May to 31 October. This condition should therefore be part of your planning if the gorge is to be an important part of your trip.

Serra di Celano is a 1,930 m-high mountain behind Celano in the Marsica. From there, the 360° panorama extends across the entire Fucino Plain and towards the surrounding mountain ranges of Majella, Velino, Gran Sasso and Monti Simbruini. Celano lies partly within the boundaries of the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. A historic spring, the Sorgente dei Santi Martiri, complements the landscape with fresh, clear water.

Celano as a Base for Your Trip

The various highlights make Celano interesting for travellers who want to enjoy varied days: the collection at Castello Piccolomini and visits to churches, a waymarked historic trail or an experience of the landscape in the gorge and on the mountain. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether culture, hiking or a combination of both is your main reason for travelling. The available routes, historic surroundings and natural attractions offer different starting points, so not every day of your holiday has to look the same.

For further destinations in the same broader region, here is a compact selection: Verrecchie, Ateleta, Avezzano, Pagliare, Villavallelonga, Pettorano Sul Gizio, Introdacqua and Rocca Pia.

To the broader travel overview: L-Aquila.