Although the Abruzzo region is undoubtedly environmentally and culturally rich, it is ironically one of the least well-known regions of the country. Furthermore, within the Abruzzo region, there are even less known areas, despite their beautiful landscape and richness in historical, artistic, archeological and ethnographical heritage.

This is the case of the territory of the Sirente Mountain Community situated in the province of L’Aquila, which has two of the highest Apennine mountains: Mount Sirente (2,078m) and Mount Velino (2,486m) and where the Aterno River flows.

Its position far from traffic has helped to preserve it. Another factor which has helped to preserve it has been the depopulation which has taken place over the past decades which has brought about a considerable reduction in its number of residents.

The Mountain Community comprises thirteen communities: FagnanoAlto, Fontecchio, Tione degli Abruzzi, Molina Aterna, Castelvechio Subequo, Castel di Ieri, Goriano Sicoli, Gagliano Aterno, Secinaro, Rocca di Cambio, Rocca di Mezzo and Ovindoli. Some of these are divided into numerous hamlets. The centers are all very small and each municipality has a population varying from 400 to 1,500, making a total of approximately 9,000 over an area of 50,000 hectares.

Because of its particular environmental valence, the entire territory of the Mountain Community is part of the Sirente-Velino Regionl Natural Park by request of each municipality following a law of the Regione Abruzzo.

The more mountainous part has a Dolomitic look on the western side of the Sirente which instead on the southern side gently slopes towards the Fucino Plateau, split by the beautiful Celano Gorges.

The karst tablelands of the higher areas are of particular naturalistic interest (Sirente Plateaux,Ovindoli plateau, Pezza Plateau, Rocca di MezzoTablland, Iano Plateau). They are situated at an altitude of between 1,000 and 1,500 metres above sea level, they are vast and completely surrounded by mountains. The meteoric waters therefore, which are not able to flow along the surface, disappear underground through various "swallow holes". The more important of these, "Pozzo Caldaio" absorbs the waters that are discharged by the underlying Grotte di Stiffe (Stiffe Grottos) which attract over 60,000 tourists per year.

At higher altitudes there are vast extensions of beech-wood forests. There are vast horn-beam, turkey-oak,bitter-oak and bay-oak forests and numerous monumental trees. There are manyspecies of flora ranging from that typical of the Appenines to rare or endemic species of the Sirente and Velino areas. A festival is dedicated to the narcissus which takes place each year at the end of May at Rocca di Mezzo. Truffles are plentiful in the Aterno and Subequana valleys. Another typical produce of the Aterno valley is saffron which is of a particularly high quality. There are in addition various medicinal plants.

Fauna comprises such animals as wolves, foxes, wild bores, weasels, beech-martens, royal eagles, buzzards, kestrels, bears, porcupines and wild cats.

Soon the Sirente Velino Regional National Park will be opening visiting areas, faunistic areas and botanical gardens to take more advantage of the territory’s environmental and naturalistic heritage.

The territory’s most important characteristic is undoubtedly its cultural heritage. The castles, towers, convents, churches, city walls and doors, historical centers, rural villages, archeological areas and springs throughout the Community make for an interesting visit to all the municipalities.

The numerous medieval lookout towers are an ideal physical link between the 13 municipalities.

Almost all of the populated areas have a historical center which is surrounded by the city walls and doors that embrace buildings, houses, portals, mullions, churches and characteristic roads. They are a must to visit.

Since it began operating, the Sirentina Mountain Community has been busy salvaging such elements of its valuable heritage as St. Francis Convent at Fontecchio, St. Chiara’s Convent at Gagliano Aterno and the St. George Convent at Goriano Valli di Tione. These efforts have created receptive structures for tourist, cultural and educative purposes.

Numerous churches, castle doors and walls, towers, fountains and frescos have been restored within the city centres and in the open country-side by the Mountain Community.

Municipal administrations and the Superintendance for Art and Archeology have carried out work on another 90 projects to preserve, discover, enhance and render elements of heritage more useful.

This arduous task was begun even before such projects were expressly stipulated by law (L.30.1.1994, n.97).

All these artistic, monumental and environmental treasures make the whole of the Mountain Community a veritable "museum territory", which can be visited by following different or thematic itineraries eg archeological, religious, historical, ethno-anthropological, etc.

This work aims to make the history and art of the entire territory known. This work was devised following a project entitled: "Research and enhancement of the minor aspects of artistic culture and of popular traditions of the territory of the Sirentina Mountain Community" which the Regione Abruzzo partly funded following the law L.R. 10 September 1993, n,56 (New norms for cultural promotion). Research was carried out with the collaboration of local voluntary associations, Pro-loco and other institutions interested in formulating a graphical and photographical census of the minor cultural heritage present in the territory. A documentary of the more important aspects of the territory in need of preservation was also made.

With the participation of local volunteers and involving the entire population, it is hoped to instill a sense of pride and public interest. We wish to thank not only the personnel of the Mountain Community, but to all those who helped with this research. We hope you will find the information of this site useful and look forward to your visiting our Mountain Community.