Pescasseroli (; or ) is a town and (municipality) in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, southern Italy.
A summer and winter resort, it is also the location of the Abruzzo National Park, nestled in the heart of the Monti Marsicani.
Philosopher Benedetto Croce was born there in 1866.
History
The domain of the Borrello Family in the 11th century, Pescasseroli passed as a 'sub-fief' of the Di Sangro family. After the fall of the Swabians, it came under the Aquinas family. In 1349, when Adenolfo II Aquinas died under the ruins of the castle of Alvito, it passed to a branch of the Counts of Loreto. In 1461, the barony of Pescasseroli was inherited by Antonella d'Aquino, Marquise of Pescara. At the end of the sixteenth century, the estate was sold to Giovan Giacomo di Sangro, who died in 1607. Put up for auction, it is recorded as having a succession of different owners until 1705, when for the price of 15,770 ducats, it was acquired by the Massa family of Sorrento. They were the last barons of Pescasseroli before the advent of the new nineteenth-century bourgeoisie, in this case exemplified by the Sipari family.
The Pescasseroli-Candela sheep route or "tratturo" started in imperial times as a military route used by the Roman legions. In the Middle Ages it became a route for sheep grazing migration from the higher and colder mountains of Abruzzo to the lower pastures of Puglia. With a distance of it is the third longest "tratturo" in southern Italy.
Main sights Abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul, founded around 1100. It houses a wooden statue of Madonna with Child from the 13th century.
Tourism Tourism is an important economic resource. Pescasseroli is considered the most important centre of the Abruzzo National Park. Located at the centre of several natural itineraries, the town offers a range of services and facilities that serve tourists and holidaymakers throughout the year in the protected area, including a park visitor centre, nature museum, wildlife area, botanical garden, and the ski slopes of the mountain of Vitelle, equipped with parking. The area is characterised by protected wildlife and unspoiled nature, offering a variety of flora and fauna along with related services and hospitality. All this, along with its inhabitants, makes Pescasseroli a destination for summer holidays and winter sports.
Twin towns – sister cities
Pescasseroli is twinned with: Foggia, Italy Candela, Italy Castellane, France Buffalo, New York, United States
Climate
See also Abruzzo National Park 24 Hours in Pescasseroli – Capital of Italy’s First & Oldest National Park
References
Microsoft Corp. Encarta Encyclopedia. Italian edition (2002).