Village of Pescocostanzo (AQ)

Province: L'Aquila - Elevation: 1316 Population: 1890

The town belongs to the association of "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" and its name derives from the rocky base on which the town was constructed. The greatest splendor of the town was during the 17th and 18th century, thanks to agricultural and pastoral activities and craftsmen coming from the north of Italy, the region of Lombardia.

In the central Square of Municipio there is the Palace of the Governor and Palace Fanzago, once convent of St. Scolastica. The palace has a beautiful facade with spectacular dragon-shaped shelves made of wood, supporting the roof of the building.

A grand staircase opens to reveal the symbol of the village, the cathedral of St. Maria del Colle and the church of Confraternita dei Morti. The interior is a treasure with a gold coffered wood ceiling and several baptismal fonts, valuable wood furniture, altars and paintings. The oldest work of art is a canvas dating back to 17th century, La Madonna dell'Incendio sedato, by Tanzio da Varallo, a disciple of Caravaggio.

Many Patrician palaces, traces of the flourishing Roman period, are in the district of Varrata such as Palazzo Cocco, Palazzo Ricciardelli and Palazzo Colecchi.

Browsing through artcrafts shops, it is possible to find goldsmiths, pillow laces, wrought-iron objects and wood items.The village is a treasure to be discovered, with Reinassance and Baroque traces, splendid palaces and the typical terraced houses of the 17th century.