AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT VELINO

Plunge into the history of Abruzzo and uncover some of the region’s best-kept secrets on this full-day excursion to a fascinating archaeological site and a church brimming with surprises.

Your chauffeur will meet you outside your accommodation and drive you to Alba Fucens. Lying at the foot of Mount Velino, immersed in an unspoiled natural setting, the crumbling ruins of this once thriving Roman town today speak volumes about how life was lived in ancient times. It was founded in 303 BC as a military outpost when the Caput Mundi sent 6,000 colonists here to subdue the local Marsi and Equi tribes, traditionally hostile to Rome. During the Imperial Era the settlement prospered thanks to its strategic location along the Via Tiburtina Valeria, an ancient road that connected Rome to the Adriatic Sea. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the Barbarian invasions, Alba Fucens entered a prolonged period of decline which lasted until the 6th century AD when an earthquake struck the area and inevitably led to the town’s collapse. Buried for hundreds of years, Alba Fucens only began to re-emerge from the rubble in 1949.

Though excavation work is far from complete and a large portion of the site remains hidden beneath the ground, what visitors can see and touch here is simply amazing. Ambling along the well planned streets, you can still make out the original urban layout of the ancient town with its residential quarters and public spaces separated by an orderly grid-like pattern of cardi and decumani. The foundations of an age-old marketplace, temples, private homes and a thermal complex attest to Alba Fucens’ former magnificence and offer a priceless glimpse into this once busy, prosperous town. The highlight is definitely the remarkably well-preserved 1st century AD amphitheatre, where the citizens once gathered to watch gladiator duels and venationes, the fights between warriors and wild beasts. Even today excellent acoustics continue to make this venue a popular stage for concerts and theatre shows. Your guide will lead you through the ruins, illuminating the site’s most noteworthy features, and paint a vivid picture of life in ancient times in this delightful and uniquely peaceful corner of Abruzzo.

After some free time for lunch set off for the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta, located on the slopes of Mount Velino, surrounded by a glorious scenery. The building, which dates back to the 11th century, is surprisingly intact and was originally part of a Benedictine monastery no longer in existence. Behind its sober, unassuming facade, the church conceals some of Abruzzo’s most precious medieval treasures.

Your guide will give you an introduction to the history of the area and an explanation for why this once lively hub of artistic, cultural and social activity is now the isolated, silent spot you see today. The sculpted masterpieces preserved within the church are indeed evidence not only of the skill of local craftsmen but also of the fruitful syncretism experienced in Abruzzo between the 12th and 13th centuries. Moorish motifs, Byzantine influences and Lombard traditions merge, giving life to a host of marvellous works. You will certainly notice the splendid capitals, displaying a varied repertoire of plant motifs, zoomorphic designs and human figures, and the 13th century rood screen topped by a rare wooden lintel. Not to be missed are also the skilfully carved ambo and ciborium together with a priceless collection of 15th century frescoes, representing saints, a Crucifixion and various depictions of the Madonna and Child.

In the afternoon your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.