Castel del Monte (Abruzzo)

Castel del Monte is a medieval and Renaissance hill town, in the province of L'Aquila, in northern Abruzzo. Located in the heart of the Gran Sasso mountain range, the town sits opposite the ancient mountaintop fortress of Rocca Calascio and faces Monte Sirente in the distance. In 2006, the town was named one of the "borghi più belli d'Italia", (the most beautiful villages of Italy). In return for this honor, the town agreed to promote historic preservation and environmental protection. The creation of Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga in 1993, which Castel del Monte lies entirely within, assures that the land surrounding the town will remain forever wild, thus preserving Castel del Monte in a near pristine state. Castel del Monte's biggest tourist event is The Night of the Witches. Held in mid-August, thousands visit the town for the late-night spectacle where the entire historic district serves as a stage for residents who play the roles of townspeople and witches in a folk drama in the local dialect known as "Castellano".