Collelongo

Collelongo is a picturesque mountain village in the Abruzzo region, nestled in the heart of the Vallelonga, the ancient Transaquana Valley, immersed in the woods and mountains of the Apennines, on the border with the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. In this valley, for centuries, a wild and sometimes an inaccessible nature has guarded the secrets of the civilizations that have populated it: from prehistoric to Italic settlements, from Roman to medieval vestiges, unfortunately partly destroyed by the violent earthquake that destroyed the Marsica region in 1915. Today, Collelongo is an important tourist destination for both its archaeological heritage and its geographical position within the outer protection limits of the Abruzzo National Park. The high elevation of the area, from 850 to over 1600 metres above sea level, is characterized by wide natural views of significant biological and landscape interest with a varied presence of flora and fauna. The village of Collelongo has maintained intact the typical architecture made up of brick houses, tiny up-and-down streets and wooden gates; the classic references of small medieval centres can be found here: the boundary walls, the town gates, the tower, the square, the main church.