The Territory

The vast territory within or bordering the Park covers 135 square kilometres, with the splendid natural lake at its base — heart-shaped, at 930 metres above sea level, formed by a great prehistoric landslide — framed by mountains between 2,000 and 2,200 metres high, entirely covered in woods and high-altitude pastures, home to the rarest Apennine species: the Marsican brown bear, the wolf, the deer, the lynx. Rich in prized fish species — pike, trout, whitefish, perch, rudd and tench — the lake is swimmable and Blue Flag certified, and is flown over by migratory and resident birds such as the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and the sparrowhawk.

Untouched nature, watched over by the Hermitage of San Domenico above the spectacular lake that shares its name.

The ancient historic centre, encircled by medieval walls, has been inhabited since the year 1000, though archaeological finds attest to human presence as far back as the Neolithic. A visit to the village has fascinated Grand Tour travellers and some of the greatest foreign and Italian photographers, starting with Hilde Lotz-Bauer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli and Gianni Berengo Gardin, who was made an honorary citizen a few years ago.

Beyond the alleyways, carved stone doorways, noble palaces and external staircases leading up to the houses, visitors were captivated by the women's traditional dress — unique of its kind, marked by a turban-style headdress and distinctive bodices, celebrated for its elegance and adorned with goldsmiths' jewellery still crafted by local artisans, together with bobbin lace designed and made by Scanno's lacemakers.

A visit to the artisan workshops is a must, for the quality and originality of their creations, prized in Italy and abroad.

Scanno has fourteen churches, ten of them within the walls, testifying to the people's deep religiosity and the area's historic prosperity, the fruit of a sheep-farming economy that, in the late 1700s, drove around 130,000 head of sheep along transhumance routes.

That prosperity is also reflected in the quality of local dairy products and confectionery traditions, as prized as the dishes of shepherd's cuisine.

Numerous trails set off from the village into the surrounding nature, ideal for trekking and mountain biking enthusiasts, winding through countless mountain paths and the beautiful Sagittario Gorges, crossing the villages of Cocullo — home of the “snake handlers” — Anversa degli Abruzzi, which inspired Gabriele D'Annunzio's “The Flame Under the Bushel”, Castrovalva and Villalago, immortalised by M.C. Escher.

Scanno is rich in popular traditions, jealously preserved, practised and passed down through the generations: age-old religious and secular rites, untouched by globalisation and commercial conformism.

Intangible treasures that, together with the traditional quality of welcome and hospitality, complete a pleasant and unforgettable visiting experience.