Village of Pettorano sul Gizio (AQ)

Province: L'Aquila - Elevation: 625 Population: 1314

The town sets on the top of a calcareous rock, surrounded by a nature conservation area, in the National Park of Majella along the Natural Reserve of Genzana Alto Gizio Mountain, an enchanted passageway through the Abruzzo National Park and the National Park of Majella. The old town is fenced by the medieval city walls of Cantelmo Castle and intact survives the ancient medieval atmosphere. The village belongs to the association "i borghi più belli d' Italia".

Nearby the city wall of San Nicola there is a beautiful fresco dating back the 17th century representing St.Margherita, the holy guardian of Pettorano, holding in her hand the village.

The Cantelmo Castle with pentagonal plan and defensive walls was one of the most strategic district of the Peligna Valley, under the reign of Frederick II. Nowadays houses exhibitions of artifacts of the Roman period and exhibit of the traditional coalmen activities in the town.