The best traffic-free bike rides around Brittoli

The Piccolomini Castle, which overlooks the town center and today also houses the Town Hall. It is located right on the main square, which is why it is so distinctive in the village's panorama. It is a structure with medieval origins, built on the remains of a previous fortification, of which the central prismatic tower still remains. The current appearance is the result of various interventions by the noble families who owned it over time, particularly the Acquaviva, Piccolomini, and Medici families; the fifteenth-century configuration is generally attributed to 1485, while the interior was restored in 1924.

The story of Pupo Nunzio di Roio from October 1919 is one of the most poignant historical tragedies of the Abruzzo region. It symbolises the harsh and dangerous reality of the transumanza (the seasonal migration of livestock), which for centuries determined the economic and social life of this Italian mountain region. This place commemorates one of the most tragic events in the history of the transumanza, the age-old migration where shepherds drove their sheep every summer to the green pastures of Campo Imperatore and returned in the autumn to the warmer plains of Puglia. In the autumn of 1919, the 41-year-old shepherd Nunzio Pupi, better known as Pupo Nunzio, postponed the descent for a few days. The autumn was exceptionally mild, and he wanted to let his flock of no less than 5,000 sheep graze for as long as possible. But the weather unexpectedly turned. A fierce snowstorm caught him by surprise in the middle of the high plain. Together with his two young sons, Idolo (12) and Alfredo (11), and their loyal sheepdog, he became disoriented in the snow. None of them survived the icy storm. The entire flock also perished. According to local legend, his wife Ersilia Caruso could not cope with the loss of her husband, her children, and their sole source of livelihood. She died a short time later, consumed by grief. This moving story recalls the hard life of the shepherds, who were completely dependent on nature and often paid a high price for their existence. About the monument: Monument of Fonte Vetica In Fonte Vetica, on the southeastern plateau of Campo Imperatore, stands an impressive monument commemorating the tragedy of 1919. The Abruzzese sculptor Vicentino Michetti immortalised the shepherd, his two sons, and their dog as they desperately fought against the icy snowstorm. A little further away stands the statue of the mother, with outstretched arms directed towards the mountains, hoping to see her family return alive. Although the monument tells one poignant story, it has become a tribute to all the shepherds of Abruzzo who, over the centuries, risked their lives during the arduous transumanza. Anyone who stops at Fonte Vetica today immediately feels the impressive combination of overwhelming beauty and the unforgiving power of this mountain landscape.

Many visitors call it an unforgettable experience and an absolute must-do in Abruzzo. This is not an ordinary restaurant, but a unique DIY barbecue in the middle of the Campo Imperatore plateau. You choose your meat from the local butcher, your smoldering barbecue is ready for you to cook. Simply enjoy a meal with a spectacular view over the plateau. Those who want to avoid the crowds should come in May, June, September, or October. In July and August and on sunny weekends, it can be very popular and long queues often form. The location is usually open from April to November, typically daily from 09:00 to 19:00. The establishment closes during the winter months, as the plateau often disappears under a thick layer of snow.

There's 2 rooms, one is locked and the other is open. The open one is big enough to sleep 4 people. There's a broom to clean a bit.

From Popoli, take the road to San Rocco (Via delle svolte) to enjoy the beautiful dirt roads of the Tirino valley.

Open on Saturdays and Sundays in autumn and winter, excellent arrosticini

A small shelter, a bit battered but essential in cold and bad weather. I believe it's always open.

Unfortunately, it's not always open, but you'll find a fountain nearby.