20 Attractions to Explore Near Via Lago della Duchessa

Alba Fucens, the ancient Roman city at the base of Monte Velino (Province of Aquila), is an archaeological jewel that one should most definitely explore. In fact, the ruins that emerged from excavations initiated by Fernand De Visscher in 1949 are truly remarkable. It is chiefly remarkable for its finely preserved fortifications and so more.

Fucine Lake, or Lago Fucino in Italian, was the source of misery since ancient times. The lake had no natural outlet, causing the lake’s water to spill over and frequently flood the surrounding villages. The local inhabitants pressed Julius Caesar to drain the lake and reclaim the valley, but before Caesar could draw up a plan, he was assassinated.

The Sponga Park is a municipal natural park located on the Simbruini mountain range in the municipality of Canistro , in Abruzzo. The protected area is characterized by the presence of the La Sponga stream whose source, called Sant'Antonio-Sponga, is located at about 1000 m above sea level. The name of the stream and the park could derive from the corresponding dialect word for "sponge".

Castello Piccolomini is a Middle Ages-Renaissance castle in Balsorano, Province of L'Aquila. The castle was built by Antonio Piccolomini, nephew of pope Pius II, in 1460. Now it is a hotel and it has been used as a location for several Italian films. It has an irregular pentagonal plan with circular towers at each corner. The building is in stone and the main entrance is through the surrounding park. The internal courtyard is L shaped with a well in the middle.

Monte Velino is one of the highest mountains of Central Italy with an altitude of 2487 meters. It belongs to the Appenino Centrale Group close to the boundary between Lazio and Abruzzo Regions. Its calcareous structure is easily recognizable from all the most important summits in Abruzzo and Lazio, and with good weather conditions, its shape can be seen even from Rome.

The Mount Magnola is a mountain belonging to the mountain range of the mountains of Magnola on the eastern side of the mountain Sirente homonymous Regional Nature Park of ' Abruzzese Apennines. It is home to the homonymous ski resort of Ovindoli. One of the nice trekking and skiing destination and also other neighboring areas of naturalistic interest are Mount Faito and Pizzo di Ovindoli.

The Val d'Àrano is a mountain valley located in the municipality of Ovindoli, in Abruzzo, included in the Sirente-Velino regional natural park and indicated, together with the Aielli-Celano gorges and the Serra, among the sites of community interest of Abruzzo. The small mountain valley, included in the protected territory of the Sirente-Velino regional natural park , is located in the municipality of Ovindoli, in Abruzzo.

The Vincenzo Sebastiani refuge is a mountain refuge located in the territory of the municipality of Rocca di Mezzo, on the Abruzzo Apennines, in the province of L'Aquila, in the Velino-Sirente mountain range. A frequent destination for ski hikers and ski mountaineers in winter, and for trekking hikers in summer as well as starting point for numerous summer and winter excursions to the Velino massif

The Monti Càntari is a short mountain range belonging to the central Apennines, located on the border between Lazio and Abruzzo, along the Apennine watershed, between the provinces of Frosinone and L'Aquila. Bordered to the north and east by the Roveto Valley, to the south-east by the Ernici Mountains, to the south by the Latina Valley, to the west by the Granara Valley and the territory of Filettino.

The Piani di are a highland glacial and karst -alluvionale located in ' Abruzzese Apennines, in Abruzzo , in the province, within the territory of the town of Rocca di Mezzo, embedded in the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park . From the surrounding mountains you can enjoy a wide Apennine panorama. The Piani di are a highland glacial and karst -alluvionale located in ' Abruzzese Apennines , in Abruzzo , in the province , within the territory of the town of Rocca di Mezzo, embedded in the Sirent

The Montagne Della Duchessa regional nature reserve is a protected natural area located in the mountainous territory of the Montagne Della Duchessa, entirely included in the territory of the municipality of Borgorose, in Cicolano, in the province of Rieti. Established with Regional Law 70/90 and extended for about 3500 hectares, it is part of the system of Protected Areas of the Lazio Region, with the eastern and southern border which coincides with the regional border of the neighboring regionA

Sirente-Velino Regional Park, among the largest and most important parks in Italy, is the one and only regional park in Abruzzi. It is an enchanting natural setting alternating gentle and relaxing landscapes with steep rocky walls and an ideal habitat for the most interesting flora and fauna living in Central Italy. It is a great example of history since its towns preserve temples, castles, towers, and medieval evidence surrounded by extraordinary natural features.

The Cammino dei Briganti is a long-distance circular path that runs between Abruzzo and Lazio , straddling the historical-geographical regions of Marsica and Cicolano . About 100 kilometers long, it does not exceed 1,200 m asl except for the optional stage of the Duchessa lake.

Campo Felice is a beautiful karstic plateau in the central Appennines, included in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, central Italy. It is geographically bounded by the Velino-Sirente chain, with the other plains of Piani di Pezza and Altopiano delle Rocche located nearby. Campo Felice is situated at some 1500 m above the sea level, and has the shape of a basin. Vegetation is scarce, mostly composed by beech woods in the surrounding mountains slopes.

The Monte Sirente is the top highest of a short mountain range of ' Abruzzese Apennines, including in turn in the chain of Sirente and the homonymous Regional Park Sirente: included among the sites of community interest in Abruzzo, it mainly falls within the territories of the municipalities of Celano, Rocca di Mezzo, Ovindoli, Secinaro, Aielli, and Gagliano Aterno.

The waterfall of Zompo lo Schioppo represents the highest natural waterfall in the central Apennines after that of the Rio Verde di Borrello; in fact, the waters precipitate from a height of over 80 meters and then flow downstream towards the town of Morino. The flow rate of the waterfall, originating from karst phenomena, depends on the amount of rainfall that occurs during the year.

Riserva Naturale Regionale Grotte di Luppa is a protected natural area located in the municipality of Sante Marie, in the province of L'Aquila. The reserve occupies approximately 435 hectares and was established in 2005. The reserve takes its name from the Luppa valley, a locality located on the border of the Marsican municipalities of Sante Marie and Carsoli.

The Monte Ocre-Monte Cagno mountain range is a short internal mountain ridge of the central Apennine of Abruzzo , located in Abruzzo , in the province of L'Aquila , within the Sirente-Velino chain and the homonymous Sirente-Velino regional natural park. The typical aspect of this ridge is that it is totally devoid of vegetation on the south-west side and almost completely bare even on the north-east side with greater height difference.

The Ernici Mountains are a short mountain range of tectonic origin of the Lazio Sub-Apennines, which extends east-west and is bounded to the north by the Cantari Mountains and the Aniene valley , to the east by the Liri valley, to the south and to the west , from the Sacco Valley. The peaks are on average 2000 meters high, the highest is that of Monte del Passeggio followed by Pizzo Deta, Monte Fragara and Monte Ginepro which together constitute the southern massif.

The Grotta dei Cervi is a natural coastal cave , located along the Salento coast in Porto Badisco in the Municipality of Otranto. It was discovered on February 1, 1970 by five members of the "Pasquale de Lorentiis Salentino Speleological Group" of Maglie (Isidoro Mattioli, Severino Albertini, Remo Mazzotta, Enzo Evangelisti and Daniele Rizzo, to which Nunzio Pacella and Giuseppe Salamina were also added [ 1] ) and is the most impressive Neolithic painting complex in Europe. At first it was given