Things to do in Molina Aterno Italy – what to see attractions and activities

The Tower of Roccapreturo was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. The medieval building is located on a rocky spur in a position high from the town and has an irregular pentagonal structure, 10 meters high. In the past, the tower was part of the territorial defensive system.

Built in 1185, it corresponds to a defensive castle being built on a slope. Losing his function of time, he was abandoned. It has been restored lately. Today it is a theater with characteristic re-enactments in costume.

The Medieval Tower was built in the fourteenth century with the function of defense and warning in case of danger. At first, the building was part of a fortification which no longer exists today. The Tower has a square structure, which was accessed by a retractable staircase. In 1951, it underwent some changes: an entrance was opened at the base and a clock was placed on the façade. Today, the Tower performs a civic function.

The Castle of Bominaco was erected for reasons of defense. The first nucleus of the castle dates back to the twelfth century. In 1424 the structure was destroyed by the expedition of Braccio da Montone. Currently, only its ruins are visible.

The Castle of Roccacasale dates back to 925. The building was built by the Count of Spoleto to protect himself from the attacks of the Arabs. It was owned by the Barons De Sanctis until 1803, when it was destroyed by the Napoleonic invasion. It is currently owned by the Municipality and is the seat of the Museum of Documentation and Popular Traditions.

The castle of Retenga was erected during the 15th and 16th centuries. Inside there is a small church dedicated to San Pietro. Currently, the castle is open to the public and guided tours are organized.

The Castle-Recinto was built in the highest part of the resort. It is one of the most beautiful examples of this type of construction in the area and beyond. It is assumed to have been built around the 12th century. The enclosure has the form of an isosceles triangle, in which a pentagonal tower stands out. It was assumed that the castle was built at different historical moments. Today it is in good condition.

Peltuinum is an archaeological area that houses the remains of an ancient Roman city of the 3rd century. The city was inhabited by more than 11,000 inhabitants and consisted of different structures among which we can distinguish the theater dedicated to the worship of Apollo. Due to a strong earthquake, the city was razed to the ground. Currently, there are only a few ruins left.

The Museum of Transhumance and Costume of Abruzzo Molise is located at the Santissima Annunziata complex built in 1320. The Museum is divided into four sections: archaeology, medieval - modern times, the Roman Domus Hall and the Museum of Folk Costume. These sections contain sculptures, paintings, goldsmith art and popular costumes from the 12th to the 18th century.

It is the cathedral Church of the Diocese of Sulmona-Valva and was built in 1075. Initially, it was dedicated to Santa Maria, then, undergoing a couple of transformations in the twelfth century it was dedicated to the Patron Saint of Sulmona, San Panfilo from which it also took its name. In 1706 it was renovated in Baroque style due to an earthquake that struck it.

The Civic Museum of Sulmona is located inside the Palazzo dell'Annunziata. It was built in 1500 and covers ten rooms. In the first four rooms we find archaeological objects. Instead, the Art Gallery, located inside the museum, occupies six rooms. All the furniture in the room is very nice with furniture from the period. It houses a large collection of works ranging from the 13th to the 18th century. Among the artists we can certainly mention Giovanni da Sulomna, Giuseppe Simonelli and numerous others of the past centuries. Admission to the museum is free of charge.

The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art exhibits works that date from the twelfth century until the 18th century. It is located at the former Convent of Santa Chiara founded in 1269. The works present are both by famous artists and unknown artists.

The In Situ Museum is located in the municipality of Sulmona. It is located inside the Palazzo della Santissima, which dates back to the fifteenth century. The Museum presents archaeological finds and popular art and culture to the public. In addition, it offers a large collection of prehistoric archaeological objects.

The canyon was created by the erosion of the Sagittarius River, and is one of the most important regional nature reserves in Europe. It was listed among “The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”, and not without reason, given the particular flora and the wonderful fauna it possesses. It's the perfect place for nature lovers.

The Aqueduct was built around the middle of the thirteenth century by the Sulmonese themselves, during the period of Manfredi. The building has a length of almost 100 meters and covers 21 arches. A lot of invested in the maintenance of the aqueduct. It has always been a structure that characterized the city, being put on the paintings and postcards of Sulmona.

The Tower of Santo Iona was built on a hill from the Counts of Celano in the 13th century. The structure, with a circular plan, was divided into two rooms: the lower one, at a height of seven meters, was used as a warehouse, while, the upper part, with an octagonal plan, was destined for the body on guard. At the beginning of its construction, the building had a higher structure, however, the historical events and the earthquake of the year 1915 destroyed part of its construction.

The Museum of Art and Technology Confettiera is located at the Pelino Confetti Factory and was created by Olindo Pelino. The factory presents in the machine rooms, relics, rare and precious objects. The museum also holds the recognition diplomas obtained in world exhibitions from the 800 to the present day. In 1992, the museum was declared a national monument.

The Grotte di Stiffe are one of Italy’s most popular kartisque phenomenon. Situated at the apex of the valley of Stiffe and embed in the various vegetation of the Natural Park Sirente-Velino, the cave can be defined a resource, or a cave with a water flow. The river accompanies the visitor long the 700 m tourist-tour and forms in the heart of the cave a spectacular cascade. Nearby you can find a restauration point, a picknick area, a camper area,a playing round, a naturalistic pathes and a souvenir shop and sale of typical products Tel. +39 0862 86142 • Fax +39 0862 86111 • Cell. +39 327 9728914 www.grottestiffe.it • info@grottestiffe.it