Isola del Gran Sasso

Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia, with its hamlets, is the first town you see when looking out over the Teramo valley from the top of the Madonnina. It can be reached in about an hour by car from Prati di Tivo, but also via hiking trails that lead from the ski resort, through meadows and woods, to the small mountain village lapped by two rivers: the Ruzzo and the Mavone.

It is also called the town of mottos due to the fact that in "Isola Vecchia" many of the stone door and window lintels bear motto-shaped inscriptions. Among the most evocative places to visit in "Isola" are the Church of San Pietro and the Church of San Pietro. There is certainly the small ancient village with the parish church of San Massimo made up of narrow streets and monumental squares, the Romanesque church of San Giovanni ad Insulam, natural beauties such as the Ruzzo Waterfalls, the ruined Pagliara Castle where the patron saint of Teramo, San Berardo, was born, and the Water Museum in San Pietro. In the municipality of Isola del Gran Sasso is also the Sanctuary of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, patron saint of young people and of Abruzzo, which welcomes numerous pilgrims and visitors every year.