Anversa degli Abruzzi, the village in the Sagittario Valley

Anversa degli Abruzzi, listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, rises in the unspoiled setting of the Sagittario Valley, nestled between nature, art, and centuries of history. Its name derives from the toponyms ad versus (“in front of, nearby”) or amnis versus (“toward the river”), referring to the waters of the Sagittario; in Norman times, it may also have recalled Aversa, the Campanian town founded by the Normans. The specification “degli Abruzzi” was added in 1927.
Its history is rooted in the Middle Ages: mentioned in the Catalog of the Barons in 1150, it passed under various lordships—from the Di Sangro to the Caldora, and finally the Belprato family, who gave it its greatest splendor with the literary Academy of the Addormentati. Later, D’Annunzio celebrated it in his tragedy La fiaccola sotto il moggio (1905).

Discovering the village

Wrapped in the spectacular setting of the Sagittario Gorges—described as early as 1912 as a “steep and wild landscape, where the river gurgles and plunges into little waterfalls”—Anversa degli Abruzzi stands on a rocky spur at 600 meters above sea level.
The heart of the village is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (16th century), with its refined Renaissance portal from 1540 and the rose window of 1585 bearing the coats of arms of the Sangro family and Anversa. Inside, the polychrome statue of Saint Roch (1530) and the gilded wooden tabernacle from 1664 stand out.
Climbing through the stone alleys, one reaches the Norman castle (12th century), reduced to ruins after the 1706 earthquake but still scenographic, surrounded by houses with portals, jambs, and windows crafted by local stonemasons between the 16th and 18th centuries.
The medieval village preserves an atmosphere of bygone times: the Belvedere overlooking the gorges, the Church of San Marcello with its richly carved Gothic portal, and Porta Pazziana, a remnant of the defensive walls. Not far away are the remains of Santa Maria ad Nives (9th century).
Unmissable is the hamlet of Castrovalva, dominating the gorges with the Church of Santa Maria della Neve (16th century) and the evocative little Church of San Michele Arcangelo (12th century).

Exploring the surroundings of Anversa degli Abruzzi

The area around Anversa degli Abruzzi is rich in nature and culture. The first must-see stop is the WWF Oasis of the Sagittario Gorges, a protected area where rare botanical and animal species can be discovered along panoramic trails overlooking the imposing gorges.
Just a few kilometers away lies Scanno, the village of the famous heart-shaped lake, one of the most enchanting in Abruzzo, with medieval alleys and ancient artisan workshops. Also worth visiting is Sulmona, the city of Ovid and sugared almonds, with its majestic Piazza Garibaldi and medieval aqueduct. Mountain lovers can reach the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, a treasure chest of biodiversity with trekking routes.

photo credits  PhotoCG70