Amatrice between nature, culture and regional cuisine
Accommodation in Amatrice
Mountain landscapes and trails in the Conca Amatriciana
The Conca Amatriciana lies in the heart of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Its landscape includes forests with centuries-old trees, streams and waterfalls with clear water. Free-roaming animals also shape this natural setting. Amatrice therefore appeals to travellers who want not only to observe a mountain landscape, but also to experience it along a variety of routes.
File:Terremoto centro Italia 2016 - Amatrice (28698701104).jpg
Photo: terremocentroitalia terremocentroitalia from Italia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Amatrice has hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty. The Amatrice area also has routes of varying difficulty that can be explored on foot, in some cases by bicycle or on horseback. In addition, local sections of the Sentiero Italia can be selected in the Amatrice area. The choice therefore ranges from classic hikes to tours that can include other forms of transport.
Nature observation and views
The Oasi Orie Terme is a nature park in Configno, a hamlet of Amatrice, with centuries-old trees, abundant water and a diverse wildlife population. The grounds cover 18 hectares. Today, 22 fallow deer and 12 red deer live there freely. Visits to the Oasi Orie Terme follow a 3-kilometre-long path and are accompanied by a local guide who tells the story of the site.
The Big Bench 246 offers a different perspective. From an orchard at an altitude of 1,000 metres, it provides a 360-degree view of the Monti della Laga and the Conca Amatriciana. In Torrita, a nearby hamlet of Amatrice, the Casa delle Donne di Amatrice e Frazioni offers workshops in ceramics, loom weaving and cooking. Thus, the area's attractions include not only landscapes and wildlife, but also craft and culinary activities.
Sacred architecture and local history
The Cappella dell'Icona Passatora is a rural chapel and sanctuary in Retrosi overlooking the Monti della Laga. The sanctuary of the Cappella dell'Icona Passatora was built at the end of the 15th century on the site of a votive chapel that had already existed in the 13th century. The votive image of the Madonna and the other frescoes in the Cappella dell'Icona Passatora are attributed to the Maestro della Madonna della Misericordia and Dionisio Cappelli.
The historic centre of the municipality of Amatrice is home to the Chiesa di San Francesco and its adjoining monastery. The Chiesa di San Francesco complex dates from the 14th to the 15th century and has a Romanesque-Gothic layout. The church has a single-nave interior, a semi-polygonal apse and frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Together with the chapel in Retrosi, this heritage demonstrates how closely sacred spaces and regional history are connected.
Products and traditions from Amatrice
In Amatrice, visitors can sample local products at the Polo del Gusto e della Tradizione Amatriciana and elsewhere. The traditional Sagra degli Spaghetti all’Amatriciana usually takes place on the last weekend of August. Regional cuisine is therefore not only part of the gastronomic offering, but is also connected with a recurring local tradition.
Amatrice is particularly interesting as a place to stay if you want to combine nature, trails, sacred architecture, crafts and regional cuisine in an individual trip to Italy. The different themes can serve as a guide to the desired travel pace, without limiting the destination to hiking alone or an exclusive interest in culture.
Further destinations:Cottanello, Rieti, Colli Sul Velino, Castel San Pietro, Cittareale, Contigliano, Santa Maria and Scandriglia.
Back to the higher-level travel overview: Rieti.
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