Discover Barete: Churches, Hiking Trails and the Upper Aterno Valley

Barete lies on the edge of Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park in the upper Aterno Valley. At the same time, the town is located on the road leading from L’Aquila to Lago di Campotosto. For planning your trip, churches and memorial sites meet country lanes, forests and historic traces here. Barete can therefore be discovered from different perspectives: cultural, landscape-related and through regional cuisine.

Churches and historic traces in Barete

The Chiesa di San Paolo di Barete is attached to the municipal cemetery. Inside, there are two holy-water stoups made from Romanesque capitals; remnants of frescoes have also been preserved. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate has a rectangular façade with a portal dating from 1595. At San Paolo, you will therefore encounter Romanesque and pictorial traces, while Sant’Antonio Abate has its own chronological reference in the dated portal. Those interested in culture can consider Barete’s churches, memorial park and Roman local history as separate topics.

The Parco della Rimembranza di Barete is a memorial park for those who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Another historical reference reaches back to Roman times: because of its acidic springs, Barete was a thermal spa visited by the inhabitants of Amiternum and was known at that time as Lavaretum. This history is just as much a part of the town as the cuisine of the L’Aquila area, whose gastronomic profile includes salumi and formaggi, meaning traditional cured meats and cheeses.

Hiking between the Aterno Valley and the mountain landscape

The landscape around Barete offers country lanes and forests for long walks, as well as more demanding hiking routes for experienced hikers. Trail no. 19 leads from Tarignano di Barete to Monte Castiglione. Another route leads towards the Mulino Cavalli in Barete and reaches the Altopiano di Foce and the fountain at its entrance. Those traveling on foot can distinguish between long walks and more demanding hiking routes.

The nature around Barete also has special features to offer. In the village of Basanello near Barete stands La Cacatora, a monumental downy oak (Quercus pubescens) about 500 years old. Nature enthusiasts will find not only country lanes and forests but also a single old tree in the area around Barete as a distinct natural attraction.

Events connected with Barete

The Festa di S. Vito in Barete is associated with 15 June. The Estate baretana is associated with the months of July and August. These two time references give your trip planning a seasonal context without defining the character of the respective events any further. For scheduling purposes, a single date and a period of two months appear side by side; both details can be considered separately.

Further destinations for your trip to Italy: Prezza, Ovindoli, Pianelle, Civita D'antino, Ortona dei Marsi, Stiffe, Santi, Collarmele

For the higher-level travel overview: L-Aquila.