Experience filigree, forests, and the magic of ‘Golden Hour’ in one of Abruzzo’s most beautiful mountain towns.
Events · Nature & Hiking · See & Do
Some places in Abruzzo are worth the drive, and Pescocostanzo is one of them. This mountain village is so well preserved that you can still find working goldsmiths, a favourite cheese shop, handwoven knitwear, and a lace museum, all just a short walk apart. It’s officially one of Italy’s Borghi più Belli, and it truly deserves the title.
We’re heading there on Thursday, 12th March, and the timing couldn’t be better.
The Day
In the morning, we’ll explore the artisan streets with Serena, visit the filigree jewellery workshops where Abruzzo’s goldsmithing tradition thrives, and stop at a cheese shop some of our members have loved for years. If you enjoy lace, you can visit the Museo del Tombolo. And if you simply want to stroll through beautiful, narrow medieval streets lined with baroque palazzos and artisan shops, there are plenty to discover.
We’ll have a 2-course lunch at a local agriturismo near the Bosco di Sant’Antonio. The menu includes cazzarielli e fagioli, a traditional mountain pasta with beans, along with wine, coffee, and biscuits. It’s a simple and delicious meal.
After lunch, we’ll head into the forest. The Bosco di Sant’Antonio is an ancient beech wood that has been considered sacred since Roman times, and in mid-March, crocuses start to bloom through the leaves. A local guide will join us to share stories about the trees, history, and wildlife. The walk is easy, a 2.8km loop on gentle paths, suitable for everyone, and we’ll time it for golden hour, when the mountain sky is Turnesqu. Along the way, we’ll come across a small medieval hermitage hidden among the trees.
Sunset is at 18:15, so you’ll be back on the road well before it gets dark.
Why Go?
You’ll enjoy fresh mountain air, amazing craftsmanship, authentic food, and a forest that has been sacred for two thousand years. This is Abruzzo at its best.
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Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a freelance SEO content creator and IGCSE Geography and English teacher at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She also runs the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, sharing stories and insights about this captivating region.
Alongside raising a teenager, Sam hosts guests at her family’s traditional home, the Little House of the Firefly in Abruzzo, offering a warm welcome and insider tips on local culture, food, and hidden gems.
