Hotel Garni del Lago
Scanno - Viale del Lago, 202
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Perched on a rocky outcrop at 1,050 metres altitude, Scanno is a small town nestled in the verdant Valle del Sagittario.
Considered one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, Scanno lies within the Abruzzo National Park and is an ideal destination in both summer and winter thanks to its numerous points of interest and the wide range of activities available in the area. From trekking to mountain biking, horse riding to cross-country skiing, Scanno appeals to many different types of visitor.
The town has ancient origins and appears to have been inhabited in Roman times, but it was between the 19th and 20th centuries that this place captivated both Italian and foreign photographers and artists with its charm. This is why Scanno is known as the “city of photographers” – its stunning vistas and people have been the subjects of numerous photographs by renowned photographers including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli and Renzo Tortelli. One of the photographs taken in Scanno by Mario Giacomelli, known as Boy of Scanno, became part of the photographic collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The Lake Scanno1 is the largest natural lake in Abruzzo and was formed by a landslide from Monte Genzana that blocked the course of the River Tasso. The lake sits within a unique natural landscape between the peaks of the Monti Marsicani and is rich in fauna and flora.
Having won the Blue Flag award, the lake is completely suitable for bathing and has an equipped beach where you can relax and sunbathe in summer. Some call it “the heart-shaped lake” as it appears to have the shape of a heart when viewed from above. For this reason, the Heart Trail2 starts from the lake – a simple route suitable for everyone that takes about an hour and leads to a viewpoint from which to admire this wonderful body of water.
Around Lake Scanno, there are several routes for cycling or walking, whilst along its shores there are both rest areas for picnics and barbecues as well as children’s play areas.
Overlooking the lake is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Lago or dell'Annunziata3, a small church dating back to the 17th century but enlarged and renovated several times. The interior paintings date to the 20th century, as does the altar in Venetian neo-Gothic style.
The small village of Scanno is one of the villages overlooking the lake of the same name and consists of a network of winding alleyways and narrow streets surrounded by stately palaces, ornate doorways and ancient arches. Characteristic of this village are the entrance staircases to the palaces, known as the cemmause.
You can explore the village on foot by following a circular route known as the Ciambella, a ring path that starts and ends at the town church. The most important church in the village is the Church of Santa Maria della Valle4, which is built in Abruzzese Romanesque style and still contains traces of medieval frescoes, while in the presbytery a wooden choir is preserved.
One of the most beautiful town squares is undoubtedly Piazza San Rocco5, where Palazzo Mosca stands, a truly stately building. Walking through the town you’ll find several craft shops, many of which are goldsmiths’ workshops where you can admire the presentosa, an engagement jewel that women wore to announce they were betrothed.
Among the main points of interest in the town is the Wool Museum6, which was built using stones from an ancient town gate and houses tools and documents of daily life in Scanno between 1850 and 1930.
The village of Scanno is a perfect destination in every season, and in summer in particular there are numerous sports and outdoor activities to enjoy.
The trails in this area were once the main communication routes between valley communities, whilst today they are walking routes set within a stunning natural landscape.
Around Lake Scanno, a network of trails of varying length and difficulty has developed, allowing for different types of excursions. From Scanno, a medium-difficulty trail leads first to the Carapale valley and then to the Ciminiere pass. More experienced hikers can tackle the most challenging climb in the area, which starts at 900 metres altitude at the lake and goes to the summit of Terratta at 2,202 metres.
Also very scenic are the excursions along the Ciaccariello valley, in the Campitello area, in the Tempesta valley or towards the Monti della Corte. Finally, the excursions to the Monte Rava landslide and towards Castrovalva are also very evocative.
From the village of Scanno, there are also around ten cycling routes, of varying technical difficulty, to explore by bike; some of these also lead to nearby places such as Bisegna, Pescasseroli, and Anversa degli Abruzzi. Most of the routes run along unpaved roads or trails and only partly on asphalt.
Among the most beautiful is certainly the Gran Fondo degli Stazzi Route, a route that develops within the Abruzzo National Park and is often chosen for mountain bike races. The route includes two climbs at around 1,600 metres altitude and is extremely technical both uphill and downhill.
Another very interesting route is the one that allows you to reach the Aremogna ski resort and the town of Roccaraso. Most of the itinerary runs on unpaved roads at an altitude above 1,700 metres and features an uphill elevation gain of 1,380 metres.
The Sagittario Gorges are a natural paradise located within the Sagittario Gorges guided nature reserve. Spanning an area of approximately 450 hectares and surrounded by high rocky walls, the gorges were formed by the erosive action of the waters of the River Sagittario.
Within the reserve, there are numerous trails that allow you to discover breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary vistas. This unspoilt and wild environment is home to various animal species, including wolves and Marsican bears.
From Scanno, you can take the Chair Lift to Collerotondo7, which from the 1,050 metres altitude of the town allows you to reach 1,615 metres at the Monte Rotondo refuge. This area is popular both in winter thanks to the presence of a ski resort and in summer, as there is a deer wildlife area and several routes for trekking, downhill and off-road mountain biking. The Refuge at Collerotondo8 offers a restaurant service and from there you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Scanno has a wide range of accommodation and can meet the needs of different types of visitor. The town offers a good selection of hotels, bed and breakfasts, farmhouses and holiday homes with excellent value for money. Where you choose to stay depends on the type of holiday you want.
Those who love a more cultural holiday can stay in the historic centre of Scanno, where accommodation is often located in truly stately buildings. Those who prefer to stay closer to nature can opt for a property near Lake Scanno, where you can find accommodation with lake views that guarantee stunning scenery.
Scanno is easily reached by car from the main Italian cities. From Rome, take the A25 towards Pescara until the Cocullo exit; from there continue along the SS479 for about 20 km towards Scanno. From Ancona, take the A14 first and then the A25 towards Pescara until the Cocullo exit.
From Naples, take the A1 motorway until the Caianello exit; from there continue first along the SS85 towards Venafro and then along the SS17 until the Castel di Sangro junction where you take the SS479 towards Barrea, Villetta Barrea and Scanno.
Scanno has no railway station and the nearest one is Sulmona, about 30 km away. Those who wish to reach the town by train should arrive in Sulmona and then take a TUA bus to Scanno.
What's the weather at Scanno? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Scanno for the next few days.
The small town of Scanno sits within the Abruzzo National Park and is less than 100 km from Pescara, 100 km from L'Aquila and 155 km from Rome.
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