Campli: Church Art, Hiking Trails and Porchetta

Campli combines impressive religious and architectural landmarks with trails through the Valle degli Scoiattoli and a strong porchetta tradition. If you are planning a stay, you can choose between art-historical discoveries, outdoor activities and regional food culture. These different themes make it easy to plan your days around your own interests—without every activity having to focus on the same thing.

The Sanctuary, Church Art and Architectural Styles

The Santuario della Scala Santa was established on 21 January 1772 by a papal bull issued by Pope Clement XIV. Its distinctive features include 28 wooden steps, which are climbed on one’s knees as an act of penance, and six paintings depicting the Passion of Christ. Here, religious history and a specific ritual form come together. Those interested in sacred art will find other very different details in Campli: the bell tower of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria in Platea has an octagonal section in the Lombard style. Master Antonio da Lodi created it at the end of the 15th century.

The Chiesa di San Francesco also brings together different art-historical periods. Its altarpiece is dated 1510 and attributed to the school of Cola dell’Amatrice. On either side of the back wall are two niches: one with a round arch and one with a pointed arch. Both are decorated with fresco cycles from the 14th and 15th centuries. The two arch shapes can be compared directly by looking at these different wall details.

Another architectural highlight is the courtyard of the Casa del Medico. There, a row of round columns with elaborately decorated capitals supports a double loggia. The materials include travertine from the Marche region and brick. The combination of columns, capitals and loggia offers a different way to appreciate architecture than the sacred artworks, adding to the variety of architectural motifs in Campli.

Archaeology and the History of Campovalano

The Museo archeologico nazionale di Campli opened in 1988 to house finds from the Campovalano necropolis. Excavations there had begun as early as 1967. Graphic and spatial reconstructions illustrate how the burial rituals of the Campovalano community developed within the central Adriatic, or Picene, cultural sphere. The Museo archeologico nazionale di Campli has been closed to the public since 21 April 2026. Before travelling, check whether it has since reopened.

Hiking and Climbing in the Valle degli Scoiattoli

The Valle degli Scoiattoli lies a few minutes south of Campli’s historic centre and offers opportunities for trekking. CAI trails 432 and 425 lead from Roiano through the valley to Forchetta. The tourist route is of moderate difficulty and takes three hours; check local conditions before setting out. Alongside hiking, there are climbing crags for single-pitch, multi-pitch and alpine climbing. This offers a choice of different activities: a longer hike on the trails or climbing on the crags. Which suits your stay depends on whether you would rather spend your time hiking or climbing routes.

Porchetta Tradition and Festival

The Italic Porchetta Festival in Campli takes place every year in the week after 15 August. Visitors can sample roasted porchetta alongside local vegetables, local wine and Campli soda. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates in advance. Preparing porchetta involves a detailed sequence of steps: for the Campli version, pork weighing no more than 100 kilograms is deboned, salted and left to rest. It is then tied by hand, blanched with herbs and spices from the nearby Monti Gemelli, and slowly cooked in a wood-fired oven. At the festival, the finished dish and a precisely described culinary tradition come together.

Choose a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Interests

When choosing a holiday apartment in Campli, your preferred focus can guide your decision: the churches, Santuario and Casa del Medico offer art and architectural history; the Valle degli Scoiattoli offers trekking and climbing; and the Porchetta Festival provides an annual opportunity to sample regional specialities. Before booking, consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip. If you plan to visit the museum, include its current access status in your plans; local conditions are also relevant for the route through the valley.

Discover more destinations: Mutignano, Bisenti, Teramo, Cesi, Morro D'oro, Santa Maria, Nerito, Pietracamela.

Back to the main travel overview: Teramo.