Rocca Calascio : somewhere over the rainbow...

    

Rocca Calascio, with its almost 1500 meters above the sea level, is the highest castle in Italy and among the highest in Europe, as well as one of the oldest villages inhabited by man in Abruzzo. The Castel and the village are located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.

Rocca Calascio is also famous for hosting on several occasions, large movie sets, including the films "Lady Hawke", "The Journey of the Bride, " "Padre Pio", "The Name of the Rose. " For the beauty of these locations, the movie industry has named the entire area from Rocca Calascio to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, "set for excellence. " The visit to the castle is included in the itinerary of the National Park of Gran Sasso-Laga.

Rocca Calascio is with no doubt a "must seen" when visiting Abruzzo and its Terre della Baronia in province of L'Aquila. Once there is easy to understand why Rocca Calascio is so popular : the castle, the little church,  the endless mountain , the silence, the fresh air, you feel in paradise.

Rocca Calscio is short drive from L'aquila and from Santo Stefano di Sessanio , another village considered one of the most beautiful in Abruzzo. Once you decide to visit Rocca Calascio we suggest you to eat or stay at the "Rifugio della Rocca" created from a 15th century building in the abandoned village of Calascio. Rocca Calascio is a "most seen" while visiting Abruzzo and especially the places in the province of l'Aquila. We usually suggest to our friends to chose an hotel or appartement in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Rocca Calascio or Castel del Monte and then to drive around and visit the oder villages or amazing unique locations which are just few killometres drive away the one from the other.

"Rifugio della Rocca" is a delicious restaurant where you can eat typical local food while admiring  the beautiful landscape from little window. You can also stay at the Refuge for overnight, or for  longer if you want to do some mountain-biking, cross-country skiing, climbing or walking in the National Park.

Website and contact : Rifugio della Rocca Loc. Rocca Calascio - 67020 Calascio (AQ) tel. +39 338 8059430 tel. +39 340 4696928 www.roccacalascio.it How to reach Rocca Calascio : By car from Rome: A24 Highway to East L'Aquila; drive through SS17 Street in the direction of Pescara and go  to Barisciano exit. Drive through SP Street in the direction of Castel del Monte and turn to Calascio. By car from Pescara: A25 Highway in the direction of Rome; leave the Highway through Bussi exit; drive through SS153 Street in the direction of L'Aquila and turn to Ofena; then, turn to Calascio, on your left side.