FAI Spring Days — Montelapiano: The Village of a Hundred Steps and Palazzo Marinelli

A stone village suspended over the Sangro Valley

The FAI Spring Days are the national event where the National Trust for Italy (Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano) opens hundreds of usually inaccessible sites to the public for an entire weekend. In the 2026 edition, the Abruzzo program included Montelapiano, the smallest municipality in Abruzzo, with fewer than eighty inhabitants, perched in the province of Chieti on a ridge overlooking the Sangro Valley. The openings are curated by volunteers from the FAI Vasto Delegation, who guide visitors through the stone alleyways of this medieval core.

The decorated staircase and the Village of a Hundred Steps

The symbol of the village is its artistic staircase, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy: the steps of Via Salita Vittorio Emanuele I were hand-tiled with colorful ceramics by artist Rita Fantini, a native of the village, who used them to tell the story and identity of Montelapiano. This earned it the affectionate nickname Village of a Hundred Steps, which gives its name to one of the FAI openings. The climb leads up to Piazza Umberto I, the heart of the small settlement.

Palazzo Marinelli and the homes of the master stonemasons

Among the sites open to visitors, Palazzo Marinelli stands out, presented with the evocative title "where time stood still": a historic residence with a portal and figures carved into the stone, a testament to the skill of the master stonemasons and carpenters who lived in Montelapiano for centuries. The entire village, once called Montelapidario, preserves stone houses with portals that resemble true sculptures, in a blend of art, craftsmanship, and rural memory.

In the footsteps of Saint Francis

The Vasto Delegation also proposes the itinerary "From Montelapiano to Villa in the footsteps of Saint Francis", a walking path through nature and spirituality that connects the village to nearby Villa Santa Maria along trails that, according to tradition, recall the Franciscan passage through the valley. It is an opportunity to combine a visit to the built heritage with the discovery of the Abruzzo landscape.

A heritage to be experienced in spring

The initiative, promoted throughout the peninsula, takes place with a voluntary contribution to support FAI, with some openings reserved for members. In Montelapiano, the FAI Spring Days transform the smallest municipality in Abruzzo into a destination for slow discovery, ideal for those seeking authentic villages, views of the Sangro Valley, and the pleasure of walking through history.