Discover Ortona dei Marsi

Ortona dei Marsi lies in the Giovenco Valley and within the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise. The Giovenco River runs through the lower part of the area; a medieval tower, an insect exhibition and an annual tradition also represent very different aspects of the town. The natural landscape, local history and culture therefore offer several starting points for planning your trip. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether the landscape and walks, special collections or the town’s history should play a central role in your trip.

The Giovenco Valley and its protected natural landscape

The Giovenco Valley provides a geographical setting for the town. The valley offers excursions and walks, while the Giovenco itself runs through the lower part of the Ortona dei Marsi area. These are distinct points of reference: the valley is associated with trails and getting around on foot, the river is part of the municipality’s geography, and the national park forms the protected landscape in which the town is located. Those who want to focus on nature will find concrete starting points here, without reducing Ortona dei Marsi to a single activity. When choosing a destination, it may be helpful to consider the landscape and walks alongside the town’s cultural attractions.

Insects, collections and photography

The world of insects is a distinctive focus. Entoma is an insect documentation centre in the visitor centre of Ortona dei Marsi. The “Amalia Taglieri” room houses some of the national park’s historic entomological collections. Entoma also features a permanent exhibition of exceptional insect photographs by photographer Angelina Iannarelli. The collections and photography offer two different ways into the subject: the historic holdings highlight collecting and preservation, while the images focus on the visual representation of insects. In this way, Entoma complements the landscape perspective with a natural history and cultural focus. This is a different reason to visit than taking a walk in the valley: here, collections and photography are at the heart of the experience.

A tower, a church and an August tradition

The townscape also offers a glimpse into different chapters of history. The medieval tower of Ortona dei Marsi dates back to the 13th century, and the historic centre consists of stone houses. The Church of San Giovanni Battista has its own architectural history: it was remodelled several times, particularly in the late 15th and early 16th centuries; the two side aisles were added during these alterations. A medieval tower, a centre of stone houses and a church with a later history of remodelling thus stand side by side. The Infiorata adds a recurring date to these historical themes. It takes place every year on the night leading into 14 August. If you would like to include this tradition in your travel plans, you can use this date as a guide when choosing when to travel.

Local cuisine and choosing a destination

Local cuisine includes legume soups and roast lamb. These culinary highlights add another aspect of the town to its nature and history. When looking for a holiday rental, it is worth deciding in advance what you would like to focus on: the Giovenco Valley offers excursions and walks, Entoma explores insects and their photographic representation, while the tower and church reflect different periods in the town’s history. The Infiorata also provides an annual point of reference in August. These are different reasons to consider Ortona dei Marsi as a destination, not interchangeable versions of the same excursion.

Discover more destinations: Verrecchie, Tagliacozzo, Spineta, Rocca Pia, Rivisondoli, Balsorano, Cerchio, Fontecchio.

For the overview of the wider area: L-Aquila.