Village of Castel del Monte (AQ)

Province: L'Aquila - Elevation: 1346 Population: 707

The village is a southern spur from the Gran Sasso mountain, it was the hub of local transhumance and intact medieval town with terraced houses in continuous uniform style.

In the old town sets the square watchtower, named "Ricetto", the current bell tower of the parish church of St. Marco Evangelista. The main sight is the church of Madonna del Suffragio, seat of the confraternity of shepherds, where they celebrated the ceremony of the forty-eight hours at the end of the summer, representing the end of all religious ceremonies in the town. The church was opened for two days long with the statue of the saint, so the shepherds used to pray for their families and sheep flocks, before leaving.

The Civic Museum called "Circuito Culturale" is very unusual with "scattered" exhibitions inside ancient houses, sacristies and deconsecrated chapels.

The town is well-known for the production of cheese, the famous Pecorino Canestrato, a sheep milk cheese, matured with local mountain herbs.