The Rocca Calascio is the ruin of a hilltop fortress in the Italian municipality of Calascio in the province of L’Aquila. It rises in the interior of Abruzzo and, at 1,460 m, is the highest fortress complex in the Apennines, around 1000 years old.
The fortress was built in stone and has a purely military purpose to shelter the troops. Its construction began in the 10th century, with a simple observation tower. In the 13th century the walls with four cylindrical towers were added around the original building.
Situated at an altitude of 1,460 meters, the fortress is the highest fortification in the Apennines. It is located in the Gran Sasso and Montes de la Laga National Park, on the edge of Campo Imperatore.In the years 1461 and 1703 the facility was badly damaged in very severe earthquakes. While the town of Calascio, which lies below the fortress, was rebuilt, this did not happen with the fortress.
The magical atmosphere that distinguishes this village, its history and the magnificent surrounding views have made Rocca Calascio not only a very popular destination in Abruzzo but also a perfect set where some famous directors have set scenes from famous films.
Access : Coordinates:42.328967, 13.688944 / Rocca Calascio is a fraction of the municipality of Calascio which is perched at an altitude of 1460 meters. The town is 40 km from L’Aquila, 81 km from Pescara and 160 km from Rome / You can reach Rocca Calascio Castle by car. From the A24 motorway.
Highlights :
- The fortress was never the object of fighting, but was damaged by an earthquake in November 1703. In 1985 it was the location for the film Ladyhawke.
- The small village of Rocca Calascio rises along the road that connects Santo Stefano di Sessanio to the center of the city of Calascio. This village was born because the modest size of the castle could not accommodate all the population who therefore resided outside the fortress.
- Rocca Calascio is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park on the high plains of Campo Imperatore.
- Starting from the eighties of the twentieth century, the Aquila area of the Gran Sasso d’Italia has been used as a setting for numerous film productions,films like My Friends – Act II (1982) and Ladyhawke (1985) were set here. Later the Castle hosted the set of works such as The Name of the Rose (1986) with Sean Connery, L’orizzonte degli eventi (2005) and other Italian and international films.-Rocca Calascio was also the set of some television series.
- the Castle of Rocca Calascio has undergone restoration work while some houses in the ancient medieval village have been converted into accommodation facilities.
Go next : In the vicinity of the castle is the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà. An octagonal construction, built by the shepherds of the area in the year 1596.
