Andiamo Places
Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio day trip from L'Aquila or Sulmona and Scanno or Pescara
A day trip to Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio from L'Aquila, Sulmona and Scanno, or Pescara: the stone village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio with its Medici Tower in the morning, the castle ruin of Rocca Calascio and the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pietà below it, then the shepherds' village of Castel del Monte and the high plateau of Campo Imperatore under the Gran Sasso. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 day
Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Medieval village of pale stone houses, arches and stepped lanes, once a Medici wool town, now quietly revived with shops and inns.
Medici Tower, Santo Stefano di Sessanio
The village's round tower, a symbol of the Medici years here, which collapsed in the 2009 earthquake and has been rebuilt.
Santa Maria della Pietà, Rocca Calascio
Small octagonal Renaissance church on the slope below the castle, a lovely sight against the mountains on the walk back down.
Rocca Calascio castle
Ruined stone castle on a bare ridge at about 1,460 metres, one of the highest in Italy, with views over the Gran Sasso range.
Historic centre of Castel del Monte
Stone shepherds' village on a slope at the edge of Campo Imperatore, with steep lanes, arches and covered passages between the houses.
Campo Imperatore
Vast high plateau under the Gran Sasso, known as Italy's Little Tibet, with grazing horses, sheep and huge open views.
Watch: Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is needed. From L'Aquila it is about 45 minutes east on mountain roads; from Sulmona and Scanno about an hour to an hour and a half north; from Pescara a little over an hour by motorway and then mountain roads.
Staying in L'Aquila or Sulmona and Scanno or Pescara? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Late spring to early autumn is the best time: from June to September the roads are open, the plateau is green and the evenings cool. Autumn brings clear air and colour, but snow can come early. In winter the villages are quiet and often snowy, and the high road across Campo Imperatore is closed.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio
- A car is needed; the mountain roads are narrow and winding, so allow more time than the distance suggests.
- From the car park below Rocca Calascio it is a short, steep walk up to the castle: wear proper shoes and bring a layer, as it is windy at this height.
- The road over Campo Imperatore is usually closed by snow in winter and spring: check that it is open before you set off.
- Try the lentils of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, grown on the high fields around the village, in one of its small restaurants.
- Fill the tank and carry water and snacks: villages are small and services on the plateau are few.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to hello@andiamoplaces.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Campo Imperatore: Lilloleonardo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Castel del Monte: Stadtgliederung, CC BY 4.0
- Historic centre of Santo Stefano di Sessanio: © Ra Boe / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Rocca Calascio castle: RoccaCalascio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.