Vicoli: Hilltop Village in the Nora Valley

Vicoli sits on a hill overlooking the Nora River valley. The village’s history, river landscape and trails around the village offer different focal points for a trip here. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether you would mainly like to discover the historic buildings or devote more of your time to excursions and the natural environment of the Nora.

Discover the village’s history and churches

Among the most striking historic traces are the ruins of a fortified castle dating from the 15th century. The castle was once surrounded by walls and protected by entrance gates. Although this former fortification is no longer part of the village’s present-day appearance, its defensive layout can still be discerned in the ruins. They add an older layer of local history to the picture of Vicoli.

The churches are worth a closer look, with their different names and locations. The parish church of San Rocco stands in the main square of the newer part of the village. San Rocco is also described as a simple chapel with a votive painting. The church of Madonna dei Cinghiali is in the Le Pietre district. Its distinctive ground plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; it probably dates to a later expansion. The church also contains a depiction of a wild boar’s head, which its name refers to and which is associated with local farming culture. The old church of San Vincenzo Ferrer was completed in the 18th century.

Trails and nature along the Nora

The Parco Territoriale Attrezzato di Vicoli was established in 1990. The riverside vegetation includes willows, poplars and downy oaks; the Nora River at Vicoli is home to trout, chub and barbel. Here, water, riverside plants and different fish species come together in the landscape. An old mule track leads from the old village through the Le Penne district down to the river.

A visitor centre in the old village provides information about the different trails and the locations of the equipped areas. Check the local visitor arrangements before your trip. The named excursions differ in their destinations: the Fonte della Faina excursion passes the Cascatella dell'acqua Scioppo waterfall, which is about 40 metres high, and leads to an old spring with historic architecture. Those interested in earlier riverside structures will find the remains of an old watermill and a tower on the Fiume Nora excursion. In the Middle Ages, the tower was used to relay messages with torch signals.

The Borgo Medievale excursion leads to Fonte di Vicoli Vecchio, with its architectural features in stone and brick, the Grotte baronali and the Portareccia gate. Another mill, Mulino Brandolini, can be seen in its entirety after crossing the Nora River. Each of these destinations gives the trails its own historical focus: the spring and masonry, the caves and gate, or the riverside mill.

Regional specialities and festivals

The local cuisine also offers a direct way to experience Vicoli. Cazzimperio is made with Caciocavallo cheese, eggs and milk; the hot mixture is poured over slices of toasted bread. Incaporchiato lamb is another local speciality. Those interested in regional food culture will find two very different examples here: a dish combining bread and cheese, and a named lamb speciality.

The festival calendar includes the Festa del Santo Patrono – San Rocco, the patron saint’s festival on 16 August, and the Festa della Madonna del Cinghiale in September. Check the programme for the relevant year before your trip. This allows you to coordinate your planned stay with the appropriate festival dates without treating the seasonal information as the programme for a particular year.

Choose Vicoli as a destination

Vicoli combines hilltop views over the Nora Valley with historic buildings, river scenery and named excursion destinations. When choosing your destination, consider which of these aspects appeals most to you. The castle and churches offer a different focus from the trails to the river, the riverside vegetation or the old mills and springs.

Discover more destinations: Scafa, Cerratina, Musellaro, Pescosansonesco Nuovo, Cugnoli, Moscufo, Citta' Sant'angelo, Brittoli.

Go to the overview of destinations: Pescara.