Navelli, the farming village in the heart of Abruzzo

The origin of the toponym Navelli is uncertain: some link it to “nava,” meaning basin, others to the union of nine villages and to the participation of the inhabitants in the Crusades, as recalled by the town’s coat of arms. The first settlements date back to the 6th century BC, by the Vestini, in the area of the vicus Incerulae. The church of Santa Maria in Cerulis is already mentioned in 787. The castle, built around the 10th century, is cited in a papal bull of 1092. In 1269 Navelli took part in the foundation of the Comitatus Aquilano; it suffered sieges and earthquake damage in 1423, 1456, and 1703. In the 16th–17th centuries, the village prospered thanks to the saffron trade. In 1656 the plague killed about 800 people. Between the late 19th and 20th centuries, the crisis of pastoralism and the new road system led to migrations and the gradual relocation of the settlement to the valley.

What to see in the village of Navelli

The village of Navelli, lying on the hill with its many windows overlooking the valley, preserves the appearance of an ancient town of shepherds and farmers. The cobbled streets, narrow alleys, and houses connected by arches tell of everyday life of the past, among workshops, communal ovens, and wine cellars. At the center stands the 17th-century Palazzo Santucci, built on the ruins of the medieval fortress, opening onto a courtyard with a well dated 1632 and an upper loggia with monumental rooms and fireplaces. Next to it is the church of San Sebastiano, restored in Baroque style after the 1703 earthquake, while the old village can be explored through Porta Castello, Via del Macello, and other 16th-century gates, among alleys, rock-hewn steps, and corners of peasant history such as the pilucce. Outside the walls are the church of Suffragio, noble palaces, the church of the Rosary, and, in the surroundings, the ancient rural churches of Santa Maria in Cerulis, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Madonna del Campo. The hamlet of Civitaretenga preserves the monastery of Sant’Antonio and the small Jewish ghetto, testimonies of a village rich in history, art, and memories.

Events in the village of Navelli

In Navelli, religious and popular traditions mark the year. In May, the Madonna del Gonfalone is celebrated with a procession and the distribution of blessed bread. During the summer, the village hosts artistic, musical, theatrical, and food-and-wine events. The first weekend after mid-August features the Festival of Chickpeas and Saffron, with the Donkey Palio and typical dishes such as gnocchetti with chickpeas, saffron pasta, arrosticini, and local sweets. In Civitaretenga, on September 8, the feast of the Madonna dell’Arco is celebrated with an evening torchlight procession and the “onion fair.” On the first Sunday of October, the feast of the Madonna del Rosario and Sant’Antonio Abate includes a procession and the blessing of animals and farming tools.

Discover the beauties around Navelli

The surroundings of Navelli offer landscapes of hills, fields, and valleys, crossed by the old shepherds’ tracks. Along the Tirino River and the surrounding countryside are ancient rural churches, including Santa Maria in Cerulis, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Madonna del Campo. The hamlet of Civitaretenga preserves the monastery of Sant’Antonio, with its cloister and Renaissance church, and the small Jewish ghetto, precious historical and cultural testimonies. Among mills, ancient springs, and cobbled roads, the area offers nature excursions, food-and-wine itineraries between oil and saffron, and an immersion in local agricultural and religious traditions.

Cover photo credits: Patrizia Molinari