Calascio Street Boulder

A village turned into a climbing gym

The Calascio Street Boulder is an urban climbing rally that brings the small Municipality of Calascio, in the province of L'Aquila, to life every summer at the foot of the famous Rocca di Calascio. For one day, the ancient stone houses and narrow alleys of the village become a natural open-air gym: along about 1.5 km of the town, 40 competition blocks of varying difficulty (up to grade 7c) are marked out, protected by crash pads and open for free climbing.

The competition and rally format

The event follows a rally format: each participant tackles the blocks they prefer, and the final ranking rewards those who complete the highest number. The competition day kicks off in the morning with on-site registration and continues with free climbing through the alleys. In the afternoon, the challenge culminates in a final on an artificial wall, while children and beginners can try their hand in complete safety on a dedicated structure with the assistance of Alpine Guides.

More than just climbing

The Calascio Street Boulder is much more than a sports competition: it is an outdoor community festival designed for the whole family. Numerous side activities revolve around the climbing:

• Trail running along the paths of the Calascio plateau;
• E-bike excursions with rentals and certified guides;
• Outdoor yoga sessions, with lessons available by reservation;
• Guided tours of the Rocca di Calascio and the village;
• Evening party with music, DJ sets, and food.

The rebirth of Abruzzo's villages

Established in 2017, the Calascio Street Boulder is now a staple of the Abruzzo outdoor calendar, attracting climbers and enthusiasts from all over Italy. The event is organized by the Vivi Calascio Community Cooperative together with the Mountain Evolution mountain school, and is part of the Rocca Calascio – Luce d'Abruzzo project, funded by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) of the Abruzzo Region for the cultural regeneration of villages. Beyond the sport, the event is a way to bring Calascio—one of the highest municipalities in the Apennines—to life and showcase the vitality of small mountain communities.