Village of Cocullo (AQ)

Province: L'Aquila - Elevation:  897 Population: 416

The town is one of the most charming and mystical place, famous for the unusual ceremony of Abruzzo folklore: the ancient tradition of "serpari" (snakes masters) during the Christian feast of St. Domenico. In May, the youth of the town catch snakes and the first Thursday of the month they parade on the statue of St. Domenico along the narrow streets of the town. At the end of the ceremony people release the grass snakes in their own natural environment.

The sanctuary of St. Domenico houses three silver crosses from the 15th century, made by goldsmiths of Sulmona art tradition.

The main sight is the medieval tower in the old town, made of stone blocks on a square plan basis. The tower was transformed into bell tower in St. Nicola church, damaged by the Marsica earthquake in 1915 and never restored.