A transhumance village with wall-houses and covered passages
On a hill at about 1,350 metres, on the southern edge of Campo Imperatore, Castel del Monte is a village of stone that preserves intact the structure of the "ricetto", the fortified medieval village: the outermost houses, built side by side without gaps, form a continuous wall that protected the inhabitants, the "case-mura", while inside, the lanes climb towards the top of the hill, often passing under the houses through dark covered passages, the "sporti", which create a fascinating and slightly mysterious labyrinth. For centuries, Castel del Monte lived on sheep farming and transhumance: in autumn the shepherds left with their flocks for the pastures of the Tavoliere in Apulia, returning in spring, and the village remained inhabited only by women, children and the elderly.
This pastoral tradition still lives on in the production of the Canestrato di Castel del Monte, a sheep's milk cheese aged in the typical rush baskets, and in the arrosticini and lamb dishes served in the local restaurants. The village is also known for its evocative summer events, such as the "Notte delle Streghe", the Night of the Witches, in August, which recalls with theatrical performances in the lanes the legends and fears of the women left alone during the shepherds' absence. From Castel del Monte, you can easily reach the plateau of Campo Imperatore, Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and the views over the Gran Sasso are magnificent.
Tip: get lost in the covered passages of the upper village; buy a Canestrato cheese directly from a local producer.
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