Pennapiedimonte: Rock Houses, Maiella and Panoramic Views

Pennapiedimonte lies at an altitude of 669 metres on the eastern slope of the Maiella. The village is situated on a steep ridge that drops sharply towards the Avello Valley. Pennapiedimonte combines its mountain setting with rock architecture, viewpoints, historic buildings, archaeological traces and a route in the Maiella National Park. In the village centre and surrounding area, landscape, architectural history and archaeology come together.

Mountain Setting, Rocks and Views

The high-altitude setting directly shapes the appearance of the village. At the Belvedere del Balzolo, the views extend both towards the sea and into the Avello Valley. La Pinna is known as Cimirocco and is a natural rock arch at an altitude of 705 metres. The rock arch therefore lies 36 metres above the village, which is situated at 669 metres. From the Belvedere, the sea and Avello Valley are the focus, while at La Pinna the focus is the form of the natural rock arch. The village, La Pinna and Pischioli are located between 669 and 1,135 metres above sea level.

Rock Houses and Paths in the Village Centre

The rock houses of Pennapiedimonte were generally multi-storey residential buildings. The ground floors contained stables and kitchens, while the bedrooms were on the upper floors. The Casa rupestre is located on Via della Grotta. It can be reached from Piazza Umberto I via a footpath through the historic centre. This footpath is also considered accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Medieval Fountain and Village Paths

The Fontana medievale is a monumental fountain made of worked stone. Four spouts and an L-shaped loggia are among its characteristic architectural elements. You can reach the fountain by car via the one-way street Via Fontana or on foot in 15 to 20 minutes from the village centre. The walking time is given from the village centre, while access by car is subject to a one-way street.

Church, Tower and Italic Necropolis

The Church of Saints Sylvester and Roch was expanded into a Baroque religious complex in the 18th century. The complex includes a bell tower and a rectory. The church also contains paintings by Nicola Bonaventura Ranieri. The Torre Romana houses an exhibition of archaeological material from the Italic necropolis. The necropolis of Pennapiedimonte was discovered during excavations in 1982 and dates from the 5th to the 4th century BC. For those interested in culture, Pennapiedimonte therefore offers both the Baroque church with its paintings and archaeological material from the Italic necropolis.

Route and Higher Destinations

A route in Maiella National Park begins and ends at Località Balzolo in the village of Pennapiedimonte. The route therefore forms a loop with the same starting and ending point. The Pischioli mountain refuge is located in the Pennapiedimonte area at an altitude of 1,135 metres. From there, there are views of the Avello Valley below. At 1,135 metres, Pischioli is 466 metres above the village.

Compare More Destinations

For comparing other travel destinations, you can also consider Roccamontepiano, Borrello, San Martino Sulla Marrucina, Guardiagrele, Casacanditella, Pretoro, Pizzoferrato and Gamberale.

To the higher-level travel overview: Chieti.