Versione Italiana

The village of Fontecchio and the archaelogical site of Piano San Marco del Gran Sasso

We suggest a week of archaeology camps and guided tours along the wonderful medieval mountain villages of Abruzzo. You will join L’Aquila University researchers – Department of Medieval Archaeololgy, IT and Anthropology – and medieval frescos restorers working in a medieval excavation and helping them to clean and restore the archaeological finds. In the afternoon you will visit medieval towns and buildings with University researchers, in order to discover everything about their history.

You will learn to date an ancient building and all of its development processes. You will meet medieval frescos restorers who are working on heritage damaged in the 2009 earthquake.

The journey includes: Cultural Tours

Day 1

• Arrival to Fontecchio and accommodation in historical buildings;
• Explanation of the tour schedule;
• Visit of medieval Fontecchio mountain village with expert local guides;
• Lunch in the wonderful cloister of the monastery of San Francesco;
• Visit of local castles and towers;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 2

• Breakfast and departure to Piana di San Marco del Gran Sasso, to join the archaeological excavation of an ancient Benedictine (VII century);
• Visit of Rocca Calascio and its castle;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 3

• Working in Piana San Marco;
• Lunch in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, guided tour of the mountain village and the ruins of Grancia Cistercense di Santa Maria del Monte;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 4

• Working in Piana San Marco;
• Lunch in Fontecchio and free afternoon;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 5

• Working in Piana San Marco;
• Lunch in Bominaco and visit of its medieval churches and castle;
• Visit of San Pietro ad Oratorium with its “magical square” and the Abbey of San Benedetto in Perillis and its mysterious underground;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 6

• Cleansing and classification of the excavations’ finds;
• Lunch in a typical restaurant in Castelvecchio Calvisio;
• Visit to the suggestive Castelvecchio Calvisio and Navelli mountain villages;
• Dinner and overnight in Fontecchio.

Day 7

• Visit of the church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas in Fossa with its extraordinary frescos;
• meeting with restorers;
• Visit of L’Aquila, damaged by the 2009 eartquake;
• Lunch and tasting at the “Cantina del Boss” ;
• Departure.

End of journey
Minimum number of participants: 6 persons
Price includes
•   Accommodation in double room with private bathroom
•   Breakfasts, lunches and dinners
•   Camp activities
•   Tour guides
•   Local transfers
•   Transfers from/to Roma airports or Pescara
•   Informative brochures
Price not includes
•   Beverages during meals
•   Everything not clearly indicated in “The price includes”
•   Extras
Travel time
7 Days and 6 nights
Your guide
Tour guide, university researchers
We suggest to bring
•   Comfortable clothes and shoes, camera
Book now at € 1200 per head