Roccascalegna

Roccascalegna is a charming medieval village located in the Abruzzo hinterland, in the province of Chieti, that enchants visitors with its striking castle perched on a rocky outcrop and its timeless atmosphere. The village, whose origins date back to the 12th century, arose as a Lombard outpost to control the Rio Secco Valley and defend against Byzantine raids. The Lombards built an initial watchtower here, which, over time, was transformed into today's Roccascalegna Castle.

The name of the village itself encapsulates its connection to the lay of the land: according to some scholars, "scalegna" derives from the ancient French term "scarengia" or "scarenna," meaning cliff or escarpment, indicating the steep side of the rocky outcrop on which the fortress stands. Others believe the origin is related to a legendary "wooden staircase" that led to the fortress.

Roccascalegna's history is marked by centuries of silences and rebirths: documents from 1320 mention the castle as "cum castellione," but after a period of oblivion, it was not until 1525 that the structure was restored to adapt to new firearms, while in 1705 the imposing access ramp was added. The castle then fell into neglect again, until 1985, when the last feudal family, the Croce Nanni family, donated it to the municipality, which began a restoration completed in 1996. Today, the manor still dominates the valley with its spectacular silhouette, a symbol of a village that has endured through the centuries.

The village of Roccascalegna spreads out at the foot of the fortress: a tangle of stone houses, some restored and others reduced to ruins, lines the main street that leads up to the Church of San Pietro, located at the entrance to the castle. To walk through its narrow streets is to step back in time, among breathtaking views, small churches and ancient buildings that tell stories of knights, monks and feudal lords.

What to see in Roccascalegna

In Roccascalegna, the undisputed protagonist is the Castle, built as a Longobard tower and transformed into a Norman fortress, which can now be visited thanks to the restoration that has returned its halls and towers to their original charm; inside you can admire the Prison Tower, the Oven Tower connected to the Rosary Chapel, rooms dedicated to armaments and torture instruments and a photographic section on local legends, while from the ramparts there is a spectacular view of the Rio Secco valley. At the foot of the castle is the Church of St. Peter, completed in the mid-16th century, with a Baroque facade, Romanesque portal, and three naves adorned with 18th-century altars; not far away the Church of St. Pancrazio, with origins in the 12th century and a history related to an ancient monastery, has a pebbled facade and a two-aisled interior without an apse. Finally, the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, built in the 16th century for the inhabitants outside the walls, holds a striking interior with three naves decorated in the Baroque style, colorful frescoes and gilded ornaments embellishing the vaults.