Things to do when you stay at Pacentro
Relaxing in the garden - things to watch - goad herding, wild boar, birds, mountains ....
Hanging out in the village - bars and restaurants and the rythm of village life
Visit Sulmona Market (Weds and Sats) - the nearby town of Sulmona down in the Peligna valley has a big market filling the whole of Piazza Garibaldi and selling absolutely everything at good prices. It is well worth a visit. You can take the bus down to Sulmona or even walk. There are also several interesting museums in the town and lovely churches.
Hike or Cycle in The Majella National Park - all necessary information, and bike hire, can be found at the information office for The Majella National Park in Pacentro. Since the village is in the national park you can walk straight out of the village onto the paths. Previous visitors have walked to Campo di Giove. Others have made circular walks up at Passo San Leonardo or walked from the pass down to Pacentro. Some famous and very beautiful hermitages in the Majella can only be reached by foot. Cycle up into the Majella or down to the local swimming pool. Sample part of the Majella National Part Hiking Map
Tracking wolves in the Majella National Park – you can hire a guide or go on wolf tracking weekends, staying in the park refuges. Details at http://www.rifugioilmajo.com/
Local Wine tasting – The Valle Reale vineyard is nearby at Popoli http://www.vallereale.it/. The wine tasting and vineyard visit is good fun with lovely snacks to go with lovely wines. You also learnt a lot about growing Montepulcano D’Abbruzzo and Trebbiana grapes.
Visit the nearby Celestine’s Hermitage Sant’Onofrio al Morrone and the Sanctuary of Hercules Curino – for a pleasant nearby trip. Celestine V (Pietro da Morrone 1215-1296), spent much time in our area and was the only pope to abdicate. You can see the Hermitage used by Pietro, perched half way up the side of Monte Morrone, with the archaeological remains of the Roman sanctuary below it, from most points in Sulmona.
Visit Rome, Hadrians Villa or Tivoli Gardens - it is nice to dip into Rome for the day and then drive back along the empty autostrada (A24) to the peace of Abruzzo. Hadrian's Villa and the Villa D'Este at Tivoli (A World Heritage Site) are very easy to reach from the autostrada (A24) and make lovely days out.
Visit the Archaeological Museum at Chieti - For those interested in archaeology Chieti is well worth a visit. At the museum you will be able to see the famous Italic Warrior from Capestrano and other Italic and Roman sculpture from Abruzzo. The museum also has interesting archaological maps of the area and is a great help in understanding the considerable Roman presence in Abruzzo. The city itself also had three small temples of the late I century AD, and a Roman theatre.
Visit the Adriatic Coast around Pescara - to be completed
Visit beatiful Abruzzese towns - to be completed
Skiing in the Winter - There are two Ski centres with ski lifts near to the village of Pacentro at Passo San Leonardo and at Camp di Giove. Passo San Leonardo - about 6 km away is in the Maella National park, has 2 ski lifts, 6 ski runs and 7 km of piste. Campo di Giove - about 6 km away, has a cableway, 3 skilifts and 6 ski runs, with a skiing school, hotels and guesthouses. Further afield, about 20km, Roccarasso is an Olympic standard ski resort
Christmas and Easter in Pacentro - to be completed
Last updated 24 June, 2009