Sitting at an impressive elevation of 1460m above sea level is the abandoned medieval fortress of Rocca Calascio. This jewel in Abruzzo reigns proudly over the entire mountainous landscape and draws everyone from below to its ruins. When visiting Abruzzo, keep this spot on your to-visit list and keep reading to find out how to visit.
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What is Rocca Calascio?
Located in the heart of Abruzzo, in Central Italy, a unique fortress dating back to the Middle Ages rises above the clouds. Rocca Calascio is an extraordinary castle that might seem to be far and remotely located but is actually quite close to Rome. Meaning: you have no excuse not to visit!
Rocca Calascio is a fortified defensive structure, which was built solely for military purposes. Abruzzo was – and still is – a very important region for wool production, where hundreds of thousands of sheep are bred and raised. The fortress of Rocca Calascio allowed people to observe and control the nearby valleys and mountain pastures.
The castle was most likely built in two steps. The central tower is older and probably dates back to the Roman Empire. The rest of the castle was built around the main tower later on by the Normans, as Abruzzo was part of the Kingdom of Sicily.
Curiously, the fortress of Rocca Calascio is fairly small, especially when compared to other castles. This is because its purpose wasn’t to protect the people of nearby towns, but it was thought of as a stronghold to check the territory during the transhumance.
In the following centuries, Rocca Calascio was damaged by the numerous earthquakes that heavily impacted the region. With the end of the transhumance and the emigration of the local population, the fortress and nearby towns have been abandoned and fallen into a state of decay.
How to get to Rocca Calascio?
Rocca Calascio is situated in Abruzzo, within the “Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park“.
The closest town is Calascio, which is home to just 130 people. Above Calascio you will find the old – ghost – town of Calascio, which is completely uninhabited and abandoned apart from one building.
Here you can find the exact location of Rocca Calascio:
Reaching the area by car
The easiest way to reach the area of Rocca Calascio is by car. You can park close to one of the two starting points, either the town of Calascio or near Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Keep reading to find the detailed guide for each option.
Reaching the area by public transport
While not many people use buses around Rocca Calascio, you can still get there without a car. Just keep in mind, since there are no trains in the area, buses are your go-to option for reaching this beautiful spot using public transport.
You need to look for bus 2009 in L’aquila, which leaves from Bus Terminal Collemaggio.
There are 4 buses each day, departing at the following times: 8:05 – 11:30 – 14:15 – 19:20. The bus makes 24 stops, including 2 in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and 2 in Calascio (closest to the Rocca).
The service is operated by TUA ABRUZZO, and you can check times for your specific dates at this website. Insert “L’Aquila, ITA” and “Calascio, L’Aquila, ITA” as your departure and arrival points.
A bus ticket from L’Aquila costs:
- 3,00€ to Santo Stefano di Sessanio
- 3,60€ to Calascio
- 4,30€ to Castel del Monte
Reaching the fortress of Rocca Calascio
The fortress of Rocca Calascio can only be reached on a walk, either from the town of Calascio (easiest way) or from the nearby town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (longer hike). Below you can find the details on how to reach Rocca Calascio from both starting points.
The easy way: from the town of Calascio
The easiest way to reach Rocca Calascio is from the town of Calascio itself (in yellow). There are several small parking areas in Calascio, which only fit a few cars each. The closest one (Parking 1 on the map) is located at the end of the road, just before the uninhabited town of Calascio.
🥾 HIKE DETAILS
Length: 1.2km round trip
Duration: 10min each way
Difficulty: very easy
Elevation difference: +60m/-60m
This hike is short (about 600m long) and with only 60m of elevation difference, it is very easy to do, even for kids. However, keep in mind that the trail becomes much longer – and considerably steeper – if you have to park lower, far from the old town of Calascio. From the lower, newer own of Calascio, the hike is about 2.9km long and with an elevation gain of 230m.
In the picture above you can see the old town of Calascio – now abandoned – and Rocca Calascio on top. The bottom right area is the nearest parking to Rocca Calascio (Parking 1, in black). Below, out of the frame, is the newer town of Calascio.
As you can see, when all the parking spots in old Calascio are full, the only option is to park much lower down the road.
The “Panoramic Route”: Rocca Calascio from Santo Stefano di Sessanio
The hike from Santo Stefano di Sessanio is longer, but very pleasant and with outstanding views. Overall we are looking at a 4.6km long trail with a total elevation difference of 230m. While the hike itself is not really challenging, it’s important to mention that there is a very steep section on the way, where most of that elevation difference is concentrated.
🥾 HIKE DETAILS
Length: 9.2km round trip
Duration: 1h each way
Difficulty: easy
Elevation difference: +230m/-230m
From Santo Stefano di Sessanio, you can follow the paved road (Strada Provinciale 7) for a few hundred meters until you see a small road on the left. As soon as you turn left on the smaller road, you’ll see an area dedicated to parking and a sign indicating Rocca Calascio. That’s where the actual trail begins.
The sign indicates “percorso panoramico” (panoramic route), and for a good reason. The views are impressive in every direction. From this trail, you will see the town of Santo Stefano di Sessiano behind you, the summit of the Gran Sasso massif in the distance, and the beautiful valleys of the National Park all around.
Apart from the steep section in the last photo, the whole hike is very easy and pleasant. As you keep walking and you reach the summit of the hill, the views in front of you begin to open up over the valley first and over Rocca Calascio later.
The morning lights make everything more magical here.
The path is well marked and you can easily follow it towards the fortress. From here, it will only take you a few minutes to get to Rocca Calascio.
While you make your way to the fortress you come across the octogonal Church of Santa Maria della Pietà . It’s believed that the church dates back to the end of the 16th century or early 17th century and was built to give thanks to the Heavenly Mother (Mary) for the local inhabitant’s victory in war against a band of brigades from the Papl state. It’s a bit isolated from the fortress itself, sitting at about 1432m above sea level, and is 5.5m wide.
Unfortunately, the church was closed and it was not possible to take a look inside.
Right above the Church is Rocca Calascio. The structure is accessible and you are free to roam around the Rocca. The ruins of the old buildings surrounding the fortress can also be explored, and some of them hide incredible sights.
Best time to visit Rocca Calascio
There is no such thing as the best time to visit Rocca Calascio, as each season offers a completely different scenery. Summer (Jun-Aug) is the busiest time of the year, with the weather being dry and hot. During this season, the temperature might be quite unbearable during the central hours of the day, so it’s best to avoid those hours for hiking.
Spring and Autumn offer some in-between conditions, with days that are still warm and some moderate chances of precipitations. Winter (Dec-Feb) is generally the coldest period, and the trail might be covered in snow. Hiking to Rocca Calascio might require snowshoes during these months.
For what concerns the best time of the day, sunrise and sunset are ideal in terms of light conditions. We visited Rocca Calascio at the end of October, at sunrise, and the weather was just perfect.
What to do nearby
Rocca Calascio is located near so many beautiful places you should check out during your visit. Here is a brief list of the closest ones:
Hike Corno Grande
Corno Grande is the highest peak of the Gran Sasso massif, as well as the whole of Apennines and Central Italy. You can hike it on a day hike from Campo Imperatore. Check out our full guide to plan your hike.
Explore the Valianara Canyon
A huge canyon that cuts the valley in two. It’s the Valianara Canyon, one of those places you don’t immediately associate with Italy. You can walk through the canyon and even ride horses in this extraordinary scenery.
Have lunch at Ristoro Mucciante / Giuliani
Abruzzo is famous for its arrosticini (skewered pieces of sheep meat), and the two restaurants (Ristoro Mucciante and Ristoro Giuliani) in Campo Imperatore are a must when visiting these lands. Make sure to stop by and grill your own. And bring cash!
Explore the fields of Campo Imperatore
Campo Imperatore is the largest plateau in Central Italy and you can spend hours walking and admiring this outstanding natural landscape.
Visit the little towns
There are several small towns near Rocca Calascio, which are very beautiful and characteristic. Calascio, Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Castel del Monte are the 3 you should not miss!
Where to stay near Rocca Calascio
If you’re exploring Rocca Calascio, it might be a good idea to spend a night or two in the area. The surroundings are beautiful, and you can have fun exploring the nearby towns of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, the ghost town of Calascio and Castel del Monte. Here are our top picks for the best accommodations near the fortress of Rocca Calascio!
ON A BUDGET: The cheapest options available in the area are priced at around 75€/night for two people. Among these, you will find Casa Manetta and Casa Mammuccia in Calascio.
About 15 km away, in the town of Barisciano, B&B Dimora Belvedere offers the best value for money in the area. It’s modern, beautifully designed, and affordable. However, it’s only convenient if you have a car.
MID-RANGE: A gorgeous two-bedroom solution is La casa di mezzo in Calascio. We’d definitely recommend it for two couples or small groups of friends. It costs about 245€/night but gets cheaper from the second night, and it comfortably sleeps up to 5-6 people.
LUXURY: For those seeking a more luxurious escape, Santo’S House Luxury in Santo Stefano di Sessanio is the perfect solution. It comes complete with an indoor spa for added relaxation.
Great detailed info. Only thing lacking is info on how to get there by train and/or bus for those of us who prefer not to drive.
Good point! Appreciate the feedback. While bus options might be limited in this particular area of Abruzzo, we’ll certainly work on including more details for those who prefer non-driving options. Thanks for the suggestion!