Italy

San Benedetto in Perillis is a charming ancient hilltop village with its origins dating back to the VIII century. Here you will find one of Abruzzo's oldest abbeys as well as ancient stone houses, some of which still have the wooden locks that San Benedetto in Perillis is famous for. Wander round the streets, take a tour of the vast cave network that runs below the historic centre, immerse yourself in nature and, being up at 850m above sea level, soak up the stunning and far-reaching views across the Peligna Valley.

Our nearby town of Serramonacesca has 2 cafe/bars, 2 restaurants, one in the heart of the village and one just outside the village next to the Abbazia di San Liberatore and the Alento river. There are some handy small shops including a general food store, a pharmacy, a butcher, and the local shepherding family has a small shop where they sell their own sheep cheese, arrosticini and salami. The fruit and vegetable seller is in the piazza on Tuesday and Friday mornings. There is a mobile pizza van on Tuesday evenings and porchetta van on Friday evenings, both of which can be purchased and then enjoyed in one of the two bars. On a Thursday from 6.30pm the Bar Dello Sport sells hot, spicy chicken wings, but get there early as they sell out fast. The nearest recommended winery is the organic Tenuta Arabona of Manoppello.

Local Festival and Sagre Dates:
● Sant Antonio Abate: around 17 January
● Sant Onofrio and Sant Antonio di Padova: around 16 June
● Magna Majella (guided hike with food tasting stations down the mountain from
Passo Lanciano to Serramonacesca): First Sunday in August
● Festa degli Omaggi (auction of gifted products, mainly local foods) and small
festa: First Sunday in September
● Festa of Sant Liberatore (and second Festa degli Omaggi): third Sunday in
September
● L’Aneme De Le Morte (celebration of All Souls and Halloween): 31 October
and 1 November