CASTELLO CANTELMO-CALDORA

Located at the top of the village and recently restored, the castle of Cantelmo-Caldora is one of the most beautiful castles of the Abruzzes. Its construction would go back to the tenth century, while the territory belonged to the counts of Valva. But it was under the domination of the families of Caldora and Cantelmo that he acquired his final appearance in the fifteenth century. He was then part of a defensive ensemble controlling Valle Peligna, with the castles of Pettorano, Introdacqua, Anversa, Bugnara, Popoli and Roccacasale. From a trapezoidal plane, it kept three of the four original angles of origin, the oldest of which would be dated between the xie and xiiith centuries, as well as part of the walls and cylindrical bastions. Over the centuries, the castle belonged to several families: the Caldora and the Cantelmo, as mentioned earlier, but also the Orsini, the Colonna and Maffeo Barberini. In 1957, he became property of the commune of Pacentro. Thanks to the numerous restorations and consolidation works carried out since the 1960 s, part of the fortress (including a tower) is currently open on reservation.