Explore The Charming Town Of Castel San Vincenzo

Castel San Vincenzo is a stunning village in the south of Italy that you're likely to never have heard of. It is, however, the largest village in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and home to the famous Benedictine Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno and artificial lake of Castel San Vincenzo. It is a town steeped in history with remnants of this rich past visible everywhere you turn. Additionally, perched on a hillside with expansive views across the surrounding landscape, it is an exceptionally beautiful place. Mountains, greenery, forests and the rich blue of the lake come together with the distinctive stone buildings and red roofs to form a colourful and striking picture. Just find a vacation rental in Abruzzo nearby and spend a day exploring this stunning town.

Built on the slopes of Mount Vallone, the village of Castel San Vincenzo consists of narrow roads climbing up the hillside and lined with attractive stone houses. San Vincenzo al Volturno Abbey, an 8th century Benedictine monastery is the most important and historically pertinent building in the area.

Due to large land donations from noble families in the area, it became one of the most important and richest abbeys in Italy and was even visited by Charlemagne. It was damaged and then ransacked in the 9th century and it took some time to rebuild. After damage in WWII, it was rebuilt once more but 9th century frescoes remain to be viewed.

The current village of Castel San Vincenzo is actually made up of two ancient villages, Castellone al Volturno and San Vincenzo al Volturno, which came together as one in later years. Its parish church is the 12th century Church of Saint Stephen, which is another highlight, especially the two 15th century processional crosses inside made by goldsmiths of the nearby town of Sulmona. Perhaps the most spectacular feature of the town, however, is the lake.

An artificial lake made for the production of electricity, it is immediately striking and made more picturesque by the road which winds romantically around it. Though it is not a naturally occurring lake, it is hard to imagine the area without it and it is a very popular spot for fishing, camping and water sports. A drive along the surrounding road is just the thing to take in some fresh air and splendid views of the lake and mountains. There are also plenty of scenic walking paths into the Mainarde mountains.

To truly get away from it all and enter a different, very beautiful, world, there is nowhere better in Molise.