Penne

Stretching over four hills, Penne lies at an equal distance between the Adriatic and the Gran Sasso, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding heights, the woods, the olive groves that cover the hills and the rivers that run through the flatter areas. Through the Lago di Penne nature reserve, the town is the gateway to the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. A pre-Roman town, ancient capital of the Italic Vestini population, it is known as the 'City of Bricks' for its constant use in all buildings and the remains of some flooring. Its spiritual essence is marked by close ties with St. Francis of Assisi: at the entrance to Penne, a monument dedicated to the Saint stands where the first Franciscan church in Abruzzo was erected, and in the centre of the town, a plaque commemorates his passage in 1216.