Abruzzo isn’t only the land of golden beaches and beautiful sea, but it’s also rich in natural, geographical and cultural diversity. The small, hidden villages of our region are among the most picturesque in Italy and capture the attention of the most adventurous spirits. This is what happened to the famous Dutch engraver Escher when he visited Castrovalva in 1929.

The village of Castrovalva, a fraction of Anversa degli Abruzzi, rises between Pratola Peligna and Cocullo, the town of the famous Serpari, on top of a vertiginous, rocky peak. Because of that, the road to get to Castrovalvo is winding and narrow and runs along the Sagittario river, flanking the overhanging mountain.
Despite its limited access, the most passionate visitors don’t easily succumb to challenges, aware of the fact that their adventurous spirit will be repaid with the charm of this hidden gem.

M. C. Escher was an expert and solitary explorer of the most timeless places and he found Castrovalva by pure chance. His marvel was so big that he created a mysterious lithograph dedicated to the village, representing it in a realistic and metaphysical key. The Italian authorities later decided to dedicate a hairpin turn to the Dutch artist.

But Castrovalva is much more than that. Other places of interest worth seeing are the small medieval churches dating back to the eleventh and twelfth century, such as the Church of Madonna delle Grazie, built on the  chapel of San Tommaso, and the church of Santa Maria ad Nives.