Campo Imperatore, the “Little Tibet” of Abruzzo

In Italy, in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, lies what is known as the “Little Tibet” of Abruzzo. It is a place that, once you reach it, makes you doubt you are still in Italy.

This is Campo Imperatore, a vast plateau that, with its endless landscapes and absolute silence, offers indescribable emotions. The altitude varies between 1,500 and 2,000 meters, which is quite high for a plateau in Abruzzo, and it extends for over 20 kilometers. Many skiers gather here to take on extreme challenges, and it is in fact one of the main ski resorts in the region, with numerous facilities that attract many enthusiasts from central Italy. In spring and summer, however, the meadows are filled with flowers and greenery.

This plateau is not only steeped in nature, but also in history. It was here, at the Hotel Campo Imperatore, that Benito Mussolini was imprisoned after the fall of fascism in 1943, before being liberated by German paratroopers in the so-called Operation Quercia. The hotel can still be visited today, and the rooms where the fascist dictator was imprisoned can be explored, recounting a crucial period and chapter in 20th-century history.

In addition to nature and history, science also plays a major role in this paradise. At the foot of Gran Sasso d'Italia, which rises to 1,912 meters at Corno Grande, there is a small astronomical observatory inaugurated in the 1960s, which is one of the highest in Europe.

Gastronomic tradition is very important here: Castel del Monte pecorino cheese, one of the most authentic and delicious cheeses from Abruzzo, is aged here, and this place is perfect for tasting arrosticini, which warm the body and soul.

It is not just a place to visit, it is an experience to be lived, a landscape that stays with you. If you want to visit Tibet without traveling for hours, then Campo Imperatore is the ideal place.

Photo credits: A Passerini - Licensed by CC 4.0