Gran Sasso Storytelling Villages Festival

Castelvecchio Calvisio, gateway to the experiential day

The Gran Sasso Storytelling Villages Festival is a widespread cultural event involving fifteen villages in the hinterland of the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. Promoted by the Integrated Tourist Destination "Gran Sasso Storytelling Villages" and organized by the IL BOSSO cooperative, the festival weaves together training, meetings, and slow tourism to narrate and regenerate small mountain towns. The Municipality of Castelvecchio Calvisio is one of the main venues for the event: it is the starting point for the grand experiential day that concludes the festival.

A medieval village that becomes a story

Castelvecchio Calvisio sits at an altitude of about one thousand meters at the foot of the Gran Sasso massif, within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. It is considered one of the most evocative fortified villages in the region, featuring an unmistakable elliptical layout of defensive origin: a maze of alleys, arches, covered passages, and small stone squares that recount centuries of community life. Landmarks include the Church of San Cipriano, the Church of San Giovanni Battista, and the ancient fortified village itself. During the festival, these spots become the backdrop for guided narrative tours that reveal the history, architecture, and memory of the town.

The inspirational trek toward Calascio

The heart of the day is the inspirational trek connecting Castelvecchio Calvisio to Calascio, winding through high-altitude paths and pastures. The walk is accompanied by Valentino Mosesso, known as the "Shepherd-Farmer Poet," who transforms the excursion into a narrative of nature, traditions, and memory. Along the way, participants meet Mimì, a historic shepherd of the Gran Sasso, who shares authentic stories of mountain life. The route alternates between exploring the villages, convivial moments, and tasting typical products from the Upper L'Aquila area: bread, lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio, saffron from Navelli, and the genuine flavors of the Abruzzo Apennines.

Training and community: the network of fifteen villages

The day in Castelvecchio Calvisio concludes a festival that dedicates the preceding days to training and discussion: the "Future Workshop for Small Villages" Boot Camp, an intensive path for young talents, professionals, and university students created with the four Abruzzo universities, and the "Living Villages" Forum, which brings together administrators and experts to discuss the future of inland areas. The network includes Barisciano, Calascio, Capestrano, Caporciano, Carapelle Calvisio, Castel del Monte, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Collepietro, Navelli, Ofena, Prata d'Ansidonia, San Benedetto in Perillis, San Pio delle Camere, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi.

Why attend

• Discover the fortified village of Castelvecchio Calvisio, a medieval jewel of the Gran Sasso.
• Experience a narrative trek toward Calascio with the shepherd-poet Valentino Mosesso.
• Listen to the stories of Mimì and savor typical products from the Upper L'Aquila area.
• Breathe in the authentic atmosphere of one of the most beautiful villages in the Abruzzo Apennines.

The Gran Sasso Storytelling Villages Festival, in its Castelvecchio Calvisio stage, is an invitation to slow down, listen, and rediscover the soul of the Abruzzo hinterland.