From Silvi to Lady Hawk Castle (Rocca Calascio)

Starting from Silvi we head towards one of the most beautiful and well-known castles in Abruzzo, that of Rocca Calascio in the province of L'Aquila. For a short distance we travel south on the A14, up to the junction for Rome where we take the A25 up to the Bussi Popoli exit, from here we follow the signs towards Calascio.

The point of greatest interest of Rocca Calascio is undoubtedly its spectacular castle, located at an altitude of 1500 meters in a strategic position which allowed it to control all the surrounding valleys of the Barony of Carapelle. Initially it was a watchtower in local white stone with squared ashlars, then the cobblestone walls and the four corner towers with a circular plan were added, which had a military function.

Access to the castle was once via a retractable wooden staircase resting on two underlying stone blocks, but today it is possible to access it via a wooden bridge. If you want to take panoramic photos, we suggest you climb the rocky hill behind the castle to admire the wonderful surrounding landscape.

Next to the castle is the small and charming church of Santa Maria della Pietà, a small temple built in 1596. The church has an octagonal plan, surmounted by a dome with eight segments, and a Baroque-style access portal surmounted by a tympanum and a small newsstand. Inside you can find a painting of the miraculous Virgin and a statue of an armed Saint Michael. The church, now used as an oratory, can only be visited on a few occasions, but the surrounding panorama is certainly worthy of note.

Spend some time also visiting the small medieval village located below the castle. The village is divided into two areas: the oldest, located close to the castle, and the newer, located further downstream. The oldest part was abandoned following the destructive earthquakes of 1348-49, 1461 and 1703, while the lower part was inhabited until after World War II and restored at the end of the last century.