Lanes photographed by Cartier-Bresson and a heart-shaped lake
In the upper valley of the Tasso, in the mountains of southern Abruzzo, Scanno is a village of stone houses huddled on a slope, with steep lanes, steps, arches, Renaissance portals and small fountains, which has fascinated great photographers from all over the world. In 1951, Henri Cartier-Bresson took some of his most famous shots here, and a few years later Mario Giacomelli created the series "Scanno", including the famous image of a boy walking in the square among women in black, now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Scanno is also known for the traditional costume of its women, a dark dress with a characteristic headdress, which some elderly women still wear, and for its goldsmith's art, in particular the "presentosa", the filigree pendant that was given as a pledge of love.
A few kilometres below the village lies the Lago di Scanno, the largest natural lake in Abruzzo, formed thousands of years ago by a landslide that blocked the course of the Tasso, with green-blue water surrounded by woods and mountains. Seen from above, from a path that climbs from the nearby village of Frattura, the "Sentiero del Cuore", the lake takes on the shape of a heart, a romantic image that has become famous on social media. In summer, the lake offers small beaches, boat rentals and walks along the shore, and the nearby church of the Madonna del Lago stands on the water. The surrounding area is part of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, with woods inhabited by bears and deer.
Tip: walk the Sentiero del Cuore in the late afternoon to see the lake's heart shape; then explore the lanes of Scanno.
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