Discover San Giovanni Valle Roveto Superiore

Historic village above the Valle Roveto

The historic village of San Giovanni Vecchio Valle Roveto lies at an altitude of 519 m below Colle Mattoni. After the 1915 earthquake, San Giovanni Valle Roveto was divided into an upper historic settlement and a lower new settlement. The older settlement developed around a church dedicated to Saint John, which has been documented since 1308. When you visit San Giovanni Valle Roveto Superiore, you encounter here a local history revealed through settlement development and ecclesiastical architecture.

Church, artwork and ancient trace

The Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Evangelist brings together several historical periods. The lunette above the side door is decorated with a fresco depicting Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Deodatus. At the base of the bell tower there is a votive stone from the 3rd to 2nd century BC, bearing a dedication to Hercules by the local Italic family of the Gavii. The former collegiate church also had the mountain dependency of Sant’Elia. This gives you a concentrated introduction to Christian visual tradition, local history and an older religious trace.

Sanctuary and multi-day trekking

The religious history extends beyond the church building. The Santuario di San Diodato preserves the mortal remains of Saint Deodatus. The three-day “Trekking degli Eremi” leads to the Santuario di San Diodato near the village of San Giovanni Vecchio. If you would like to combine spiritual themes with several days of travel on foot, this trekking is one possible travel option.

Route through historic villages

Another route begins in San Vincenzo Vecchio, passes through Morrea and the 15th-century Castello Piccolomini, and ends in San Giovanni Vecchio. It leads through three old villages whose narrow lanes and viewpoints can be visited. This allows you to choose between a three-day trekking route and a route featuring village visits, historic buildings and viewpoints when planning your trip.

Connections and views

San Giovanni Vecchio is connected to San Vincenzo Vecchio by a road approximately 1 kilometre long. Another road, approximately 1.5 kilometres long, connects San Giovanni Vecchio with the SS82. The square in front of the church offers views of the Valle Roveto, olive groves, the valley floor and the mountains. These local connections may play a role when choosing your accommodation if you wish to take both culture and landscape into account.

Agriculture and historic surroundings

The most important agricultural products in San Giovanni include wheat, wine and olive oil; olive oil is produced in particularly large quantities. In the immediate surroundings of San Giovanni Vecchio lies the medieval castle complex of “Colle Eretto”, which was already known by this name in 1150. Thus, sacred history, medieval traces, landscape views and rural production come together in San Giovanni.

More places for planning your trip: Pacentro, Roccacasale, Introdacqua, Vittorito, Sant'Elia, Magliano De' Marsi, Villalago, Scanno

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