The fortress and the two parks
In the upper valley of the Tronto, along the ancient Via Salaria, the Roman road of salt that linked Rome to the Adriatic, Arquata del Tronto is a small mountain village with a unique feature: it is the only municipality in Europe whose territory lies within two national parks, the Monti Sibillini National Park to the north and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park to the south, surrounded by mountains, beech forests, waterfalls and high pastures. Above the village, on a rocky spur, rises the Rocca, a medieval fortress of the twelfth to thirteenth centuries, with a tall keep and towers, which for centuries controlled the Salaria and the passage between the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples; according to legend, Queen Joan of Naples stayed there.
In August and October 2016, the strong earthquakes that struck central Italy devastated Arquata and its hamlets: the village was largely destroyed, and the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto was razed to the ground, with many victims. The Rocca, which had been restored before the earthquake, was damaged but remained standing, becoming a symbol of resistance, and has since been consolidated. Today the community is working hard on the reconstruction, and visiting the area means supporting its rebirth. The territory offers splendid excursions, such as those to the waterfalls of the Monti della Laga, and local products such as the chestnuts, the cheeses and the lentils. Nearby, the village of Capodacqua preserves a small octagonal Renaissance church attributed to Cola dell'Amatrice.
Tip: check the state of the roads and of the reconstruction before you go; buy local products to support the communities of the area.
Where it is
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Where to stay near Arquata del Tronto
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