Montereale – Churches, History and Landscape in the Alta Valle dell’Aterno

Montereale combines local history, landscape and regional cuisine. The built-up centre of Montereale lies on a ridge overlooking the broad Alta Valle dell'Aterno.

Ridge, Aterno and Gran Sasso

The Aterno rises in the municipality of Montereale. At the same time, the town lies within the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga. The Fra Clemente spring is located in a green setting; there is a rest and refreshment area there. The old fortification walls date from around 1000 to 1100 and protected the higher part of the town.

Towers, palaces and historical details

The Torre Municipale has a bell that was used in the Middle Ages to summon the inhabitants of the surrounding settlements in emergencies. The town hall, which is partly housed in a former Augustinian monastery, contains two Roman stylophorous lions. In the 16th century, the Palazzo Farnese was the private residence of Margherita d’Austria. The Palazzo Mari also preserves a remarkable detail: a room on the first floor was connected to the entrance by a long pipe concealed in the wall, making it possible to observe who was knocking at the portal without being seen.

Churches from several periods

The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Assunta is Montereale’s largest church and was rebuilt between 1745 and 1750. The Chiesa del Beato Andrea was rebuilt in 1726 on the ruins of a predecessor church from the 13th century that was dedicated to Saint Augustine. It contains a chapel with a silver reliquary in which the preserved body of Blessed Andrea is kept. The Abbazia della Madonna in Pantanis was built between the 11th century and the first half of the 12th century and renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries; it contains a mausoleum dedicated to Blessed Domenico da Cesariano. Santa Maria intra moenia is a 15th-century church with a Romanesque side portal.

Cuisine and seasonal festivals

Montereale’s culinary traditions include Li strancogliuni, Stringozzi a cascio e pepe, Lu farricellu, Patate refritte and Lu pulentone. The Fiesta de la Mont – Festa della Montagna – is associated with the end of July in Montereale. The Festa di San Rocco is associated with the month of August and the village of Cabbia. The two festivals can be planned separately in terms of time and place: the Fiesta de la Mont is associated with the end of July in Montereale, while the Festa di San Rocco is associated with August in Cabbia. When travelling in midsummer, these dates can therefore be considered separately for Montereale and Cabbia.

Montereale in the Alta Valle dell’Aterno

The tourist route through the Alta Valle dell'Aterno area includes Montereale, along with Barete, Cagnano Amiterno and Capitignano, as participating municipalities.

Other places for individual travel planning include Navelli, Civitella Alfedena, Campotosto, Castel Del Monte, Magliano De' Marsi, San Giovanni Valle Roveto Superiore, Cansano and Capestrano.

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