Borghi Nascosti Project - Rome

I Borghi Nascosti Featuring the Villages of
Fossa, San Panfilo, Villa S. Angelo, Casentino, Tussillo, Filetto.

The "Borghi Nascosti" villages represent a chosen lifestyle revolving around Italian quality of life, relaxation, and beautiful rural locations. It is perfect for those that are looking for a retreat from the pace and intensity of modern-day life. All this within an hour and twenty minutes from Italy's Capital, Rome. The medieval hamlets representing "I Borghi Nascosti" are enchanted little gems perched along the hillsides of beautiful countryside in central Italy, where time has passed without changing the basic traditions, locations, habits and foods of the locals during the course of the centuries.

The "Borghi Nascosti" are the ideal setting for those that view holiday time as a moment to slow fast-paced rhythms of life, and want to couple this with a one-stop shop, low-cost package that delivers a restored house, furnished and ready for immediate use.

Abruzzo - A Region for All Tastes:

Abruzzo is renowned as one of the greenest European regions with its four Natural parks. Wander round and view the artistic treasures, enjoy the culinary delights, participate in infinite activities such as horse riding and skiing, go on nature trails where you can see bears, wild boars, wolves, eagles, and the like.

Enjoy the short distance between the mountains and the sea. Enjoy all four seasons in Abruzzo, the Summer Sea, the skiing in the colder months, the long, warm days in the spring, and the autumn walks around the hills and the lakes. The lakes in the area offer a range of sports and activities for all ages. Hiring boats, canoeing, rafting and fishing are all options. Abruzzo is in central Italy and borders on the Adriatic Sea. It is situated between the regions of Lazio, Molise and Le Marche. Abruzzo has some of the Italian peninsula's highest mountains, with the Gran Sasso towering up to 2912 metres and the Majella some 2793 metres. It also has an infinite variety of lovely seaside locations, and numerous countryside areas.

A vacation in Abruzzo means spending time away from home in a natural, genuine and serene atmosphere. The beauty of the environment, the rediscovery of ancient traditions, the many activities and the mouth-watering foods and wines are the principal ingredients of a well-known and appreciated hospitality.

Location of the Villages:

The villages are situated in the heart of the region of Abruzzo, which is renowned as a holiday location in Italy because of its abundance of countryside and parkland. More than a fifth of the land of the region is designated to protected park areas, including those encompassed by the Abruzzo National Park, the Gran Sasso, the Silente-Velina National Park and the Majella National Park.

Buyers of homes here can benefit from lowcost airlines arriving at two airports all within less than an hour and a half's drive. In addition, there are ski slopes, beaches, a lake and historical sites nearby. The borgos (Italian medieval villages) are a short drive from Italy's capital city - Rome - and close to the renowned regions of Umbria and Tuscany. In the village, homeowners can enjoy the traditional qualities of everyday Italian life, including the healthy and tasty Mediterranean diet, temperate weather, oft-blue skies, and warm and friendly locals. All the villages are situated in enchanted locations along the valley that runs up to the regional headquarter of L'Aquila. The town of Abruzzo is also an important attraction, with its infinite number of delicatessens, restaurants, bars, boutiques, churches and museums, as well as an open-air market every day. The borgos are protected by Mount Ocre, on whose feet they are mainly laid out. The villages are famous for their artistic, historical and cultural heritage.

Things to Do in the Area:

5 minutes to the Stiffe caves (Grotte di Stiffe underground caves)

10 minutes from the town of Aquila, the regional headquarter of the region of Abbruzzo, a thriving, bustling, vibrant 70,000-strong town which boast infinite fashion boutiques, wine shops, delicatessens, restaurants, and an open-air market every day.

15 minutes to the lake (Lago San Demetrio)

20 minutes to the ski slopes www.campofelice.it and www.ovindolimagnola.it

40 minutes from the beach.

Travel:

1.20 minutes to Rome (Ryanair-serviced airport).

1.20 minutes to Pescara (Ryanair--serviced airport).

Sales Villages:

The houses we sell and rent in the villages we work with are selected first and foremost for the interest and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the locals in joining the sustainable tourism project we are involved with, as well as their role and representation as important historical and cultural locations.

All the villages in question enjoy spectacular views and are a stone's throw from Italy's capital, Rome, and all its magnificent attractions. At the same time they allow the visitor and the homeowner to enjoy the beauty of spending time in a location where time has stood still, in all its beauty and simplicity. The houses we sell and rent are part of a sustainable tourism project aimed at introducing foreigners to the delights of Abruzzo. The prices are among the most attractive you will find in Italy, and the reason is two-fold. First and foremost, we want buyers and renters to benefit from their involvement in the project. Secondly, we want to encourage and attract as many visitors as possible to the delights of Abuzzo. The villages we sell and rent houses in are the following:

San Panfilo D'Ocre:

Part of the local city council of Ocre, which has 1,059 inhabitants and is made up of the villages of San Panfilo, San Martino D'Ocre, Valle and Cavaletto. The village is situated 13 kilometres from L'Aquila, and the website of the local city council is www.comunediocre.it. The village is situated in the national park of Sirente - Velino. Its annual food festival (the chestnut festivity) is held on the last Sunday in October. Historically the village had an important position in the medieval period through to the early years of the 1500s thanks to its strategic location in the valley. Of particular interest is a fortified castle village dating back to the XIV century. Another important historical element is the convent of San Angelo, built in the 1200s on an imposing hill overlooking the valley underneath. The convent contains an important fresco painting in its chapel cloisters dating back to the 1660s.

Villa S. Angelo and Tussillo:

The two villages of Villa S. Angelo and Tussillo are part of the local city council of Villa S.Angelo. Of particular note in the village are the friendly locals and Santino's restaurant in the Villa S.Angelo central square. Santino's mushroom and black truffle sauce for fresh pasta is renowned; many will travel from afar to dine there. The local city council offers its residents free Internet access in the multimedia room (on the central square), and organises a recreation centre for the village children in the summer. The two villages have 445 inhabitants and are located approximately 17 kilometres from L'Aquila. The village's heritage as one of the principal manufacturing centres of saffron is reflected in the important architecture. It is built on a hilly relief on the southern limit of the L'Aquila basin, close to the Aterno River. It is fan-shaped and in its centre there are seven nineteenth-century palazzos. A valuable fifteenth-century processional cross is preserved in the thirteenth-century parish church devoted to S.Michele in the village. Festivities include the commemoration of the Madonna in May; a fish based festival in July, and a local event that includes street food and music in August.

Carapelle Calvisio:

A beautiful mountain village, with breathtaking views and very particular architecture. The village is encircled by a medieval wall, and is characterised by typical stone portals, which embellish the quaint palazzo. The beautiful church of S. Francesco d'Assisi with its façade dating back to the 1500s and baroque decorations inside stands proud in the centre. A visitor to the village can make the trip to the sanctuary of San Pancrazio, just a few kilometres from the town. The village of Carapelle Calvisio has 107 inhabitants and is 32 kilometres from the town of L'Aquila. Festivals include that of San Pancrazio in May and the festival of the immigrant in August.

Fossa:

The village of Fossa is thought to have been built on the ruins of the mythological town of Aveia. Fossa is first mentioned in the social chronacles of the time in the seventeenth century. It was constantly battling with the nearby-town of Ocre during those years over border issues. It was later the cause of a feud between the Italian aristocratic families Colonna and Barberini. Fossa is located in the Subequana valley, with its intense, panoramic views. The village has an important archaeological site in which a sixteenth century necropolis has been discovered. Of interest in the village for the tourist is the Chiesa dell'Assunta church and the Palazzo Bonanni aristocratic home. Also worth mentioning is the church of S. Maria di Cryptas, built in the eighteenth century in Gothic style, garnished with an extraordinary cycle of frescos. The village is called the Stonehenge of Italy because of stone structures put in place by the ancient Vestini tribe between 1,000-800 BC. The Convent of Sant'Angelo d'Ocre, a few minutes' drive from Fossa, is also a must for visitors. Founded by Benedictine monks in 1242, it is first viewed when driving around a corner of a hilly lane. Its sheer beauty simply takes the breath away. It is perched on top of a promontory and dominates the lower valley from this position, and its foundations melt away into the reddish-gold carved stone that supports it. Inside, it has a Romanesque cloister and a refectory with a stunning view of the valley. Its walls bear the frescos of local artists. It is the perfect place for a relaxing, quiet visit thanks to its panoramic hillside setting. Also well worth visiting is the beautiful Monastero di Santo Spirito d'Ocre, a monastery dating back to the 200s that is now being redeveloped as a luxury events venue. Further up Mount Ocre still, perched on its tip, are the stunning ruins of the Ocre Castle containing an entire village and a 14th century church. Legend has it that Saint Massimo, the patron saint of nearby town Aquila, was killed here. The Castello D'Ocre was rebuilt after being destroyed by the Aquilani tribe in 1280 and today stands testament to the glory and riches of times gone by. It is also the perfect point from which to start a relaxing walk and soak in the history and the unbelievable view of the whole valley.

Festivals include a local wine festival in July and a steak festival in August.

Casentino (in Sant'Eusanio Forconese):

A sleepy quiet village nestled in the hill, which soaks up the warmth of the sun every day. This is for those that want to get away from all, but at the same time to be close to a bustling village like Sant'Eusanio Forconese and also to a larger, lively town like L'Aquila. The town of Sant'Eusanio Forconese has about 450 inhabitants, whilst the sleepy village of Casentino has about 40. Sant'Eusanio Forconese was in the past called "Cinque Ville", or "Five Villages" from the number of the villages on the territory. The village in the medieval times had an important castle. From 1663 it was a feud of the aristocratic Barberini family. Of particular note is the Church of Madonna del Castello, which was built from age-old material deriving from the ruins of the castle. Tradition has it that those that put their heads out of the little window in the crypt are protected from migraine headaches in the future. It is located about 18 kilometres from L'Aquila.

Petogna (in Barisciano):

Petogna is situated about 19 kilometres from L'Aquila. Barisciano dates back to the eleventh century, and in 1529 it was taken over by the town of L'Aquila after which it various families in the area regularly fought over it. The village still preserves many characteristics that are a testament to its medieval origins. Of note is a castle-enclosure that develops down the hillside along a series of terraced buildings. Two particularly distinguished buildings in the village are the church of S. Flaviano and the church of S. Maria of Valverde. Barisciano has 1,800 inhabitants. The festivals for which it is renowned include the feast of the potatoes in August, with its traditional donkey palio (race) and the festival of Santa Caterina in November.

Filetto:

Filetto is a little village with a beautiful view of the Gran Sasso Mountain. It allows easy access for ski lovers to the Fontecerreto ski lift, to the Campo Imperatore slopes and to the town of L'Aquila. The village has 1,100 inhabitants and is situated on a little hilltop besides which run the streams of Dendalo and Vienna. It is a village that dates back to the medieval times, when it fought for and won, by Baron Gigliani.

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