Discover Civitella Casanova

Civitella Casanova combines a mountainous landscape with sacred art and cuisine closely connected to the region’s produce. A large part of the area extends across the mountain zone on the eastern side of the Gran Sasso massif. This creates an appealing mix for planning your trip: you can combine experiences in nature, historic churches and culinary discoveries, and search for suitable accommodation in Civitella Casanova depending on your interests.

Natural surroundings between Gran Sasso and Voltigno

Civitella Casanova is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. The Piana del Voltigno is particularly characteristic: an area of notable natural interest and a unique example of a karst formation. This natural setting therefore offers a distinct focus during your stay. Cross-country skiing is also possible on prepared trails at the Piana del Voltigno. If you are planning an active winter trip, you can take this aspect into account when choosing the time of year and your preferred base.

The area can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways on a trip that combines different interests: while the mountain zone and the Piana del Voltigno define the character of the landscape, the churches lead to art-historical and local stories. This allows you to switch between observing nature, physical activity and cultural impressions without reducing the destination to just one type of travel experience.

Churches and distinctive image details

Outside the built-up area stands the small Church of Santa Maria della Cona, which dates back to the Renaissance. Its stone portal was created in 1529 by Bernardino Darz and Pietro Aquilano. The single-nave interior contains an old fresco from the 16th century. It depicts a woman half-buried in snow, calling on the Madonna for help while several people try to rescue her. This unusual subject gives the visit to the church a very concrete narrative character.

Another stop is the small subsidiary church of Madonna delle Grazie di Vestea on the old road from Vestea towards Penne. Beside the baptismal font, a rectangular terracotta plaque at one entrance bears the year 1779. The apse fresco depicts the beheading of Holofernes by Judith. Anyone interested in church art will find a variety of details here: at Santa Maria della Cona, the portal, fresco and Renaissance history take centre stage, while Madonna delle Grazie di Vestea has its own distinctive features in the terracotta date and the image in the apse.

Regional cuisine and events throughout the year

Food is also part of the local identity. La Cucina della Nonna serves sagne e fagioli, cipollata, pizze fritte and arrosticini. This selection makes regional cuisine a tangible part of planning your trip. If you would like to gather culinary impressions in addition to going on excursions, you can divide your days accordingly between the landscape, churches and regional specialities.

The Sagra La Cucina della Nonna is organised by local associations in July and August and promotes the typical products of Civitella Casanova. In mid-July, the village of Vestea also hosts the Vestea alla Brace event, which aims to promote local specialities. These events create seasonal focal points. They can therefore provide an additional point of reference when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home if you would like to combine your stay with a culinary occasion.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Civitella Casanova, it is worth first deciding on the rhythm you want for your trip. The natural surroundings and the opportunity to go cross-country skiing favour planning centred on landscapes and physical activity. Those who want to combine churches, image details and regional events, on the other hand, can organise their trip more around cultural and culinary stops. Accommodation thus becomes more than just a place to spend the night: it becomes the starting point for the personal focus of your stay.

For further searches in the region, pages on Serramonacesca, Citta' Sant'angelo, Turrivalignani, Brittoli, Catignano, Civitaquana, Rosciano and Castiglione A Casauria are also available. This allows you to compare Civitella Casanova with other destinations and align your accommodation search with your preferred mix of nature, culture and regional cuisine.

For the overarching travel overview: Pescara.