The shelter between the two towers - House in the historic center in the Gran Sasso Park

Il Riparo tra le due torri, in the historic center of Castel del Monte (AQ), is the family home on my father’s side, situated between two towers next to one of the “sporti,” the town’s historic entrance gates. It’s a 300-meter walk away, and just a few minutes by car will take you to Campo Imperatore, where you can go hiking, choosing between the high-altitude meadows and the main peaks of the mountain range. If you’re on foot, some trails also start right from the village. In the village, you can sample typical local products; there are several grocery stores and restaurants, and you can visit the open-air museum. For logistical and organizational reasons, we appreciate one day’s notice for this house.

The house is located next to one of the “seven gateways,” historic entrances to the historic center of Castel Del Monte, nestled between the two towers on the village’s east side. It is small and cozy, easily accessible via a short flight of stairs by taking Via Giuseppe Verdi and then turning under the arch on the right. Its location on the east side makes it very bright, even in winter, with a view stretching from the Capo la Serra ridge to the northeast and the Majella Mountains to the southeast.

The house is part of the historic center of Castel Del Monte, situated on the east side between the two defensive towers and next to one of the seven entrance gates. It is arranged over three levels: from the main floor—which is divided between the two bedrooms, the bathroom, and the living room—you descend to the lower level where the kitchen is located, and then on to a final room featuring various restored and displayed antique tools. From here, there is also access to a second entrance. The house is ancient, likely around 400 years old, and was recently restored following the 2009 earthquake. On the exterior walls, you can still see old arches—now closed off—that once served as the original passageway out of the village.

The entire house is available to guests.

Subject to my work commitments, I will be available upon request to accompany guests on mountain hikes, as I am a certified AIGAE environmental hiking guide, properly insured, and have excellent knowledge of the trails and paths in the Gran Sasso regions of L’Aquila and Teramo.

About 15 minutes from the village, you can easily reach the splendid Rocca Calascio Castle, the setting for numerous films and documentaries and ranked among the 15 most beautiful castles in the world by National Geographic, from which you can admire a bird’s-eye view of all the mountains of Abruzzo and enjoy stunning sunsets or starry night skies.