What to do · Gran Sasso
Rocca Calascio, the fortress at 1,460 m
Information
- Price
- Donation
- Duration
- 2 h
- Season
- All year; with snow, take care on the climb
- Who it's for
- Everyone
- With a dog
- On a lead on the path and around the castle
What it is
The highest fortress in the Apennines: a 10th-century tower, surrounded in the 13th century by an enclosure with four round towers, on a ridge at 1,460 m overlooking the plateau. The earthquake of 1461 left it in ruins. Below is the village of Rocca Calascio, almost abandoned and now partly lodgings, and a few hundred metres further on the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà, from the 17th century. Scenes from Ladyhawke and The Name of the Rose were filmed here.
How to climb up
By road from Calascio to the car park below the village, and from there on foot, along the cobbled street and the path to the castle. The cooperative of young people of Calascio opens the tower every day from 10:00 until dusk, with entry by donation, and organises guided visits. In summer, between 12:00 and 18:00, the car park fills up and there are jams on the road: go early or at sunset.
Tips
- Go with the last light The castle stands out against the plateau and there are fewer cars.
- Sleep in the village The Rifugio della Rocca has rooms beneath the tower.
- Shoes with a sole The final climb is stone and slippery in the rain.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter?
The tower is visited with a donation.
Can you go up with a pushchair?
To the village, with effort; the last stretch to the castle is stone: better a baby carrier.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
