Despite its almost total destruction due to the terrible earthquake of August 24, 2016, Amatrice is still today a genuine welcoming place for tourists interested in gorgeous nature and gastronomic traditions.
With its pristine, snowy mountains, trees in bloom, green meadows and the golden colours of autumn, Amatrice is, since 2015, still registered in the list of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.
The landscape of Amatrice
The Conca Amatriciana, a basin in the heart of the Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, hosts centuries-old trees, free grazing animals, streams and clear waterfalls, which turn, in winter, into magical, sparkling sculptures. The territory, perfect for slow-tourism, is also a paradise for lovers of trekking and active holidays. Several routes of various level are available for children, adults and experts.
Among the most interesting tracks, we find the Sentiero Italia, which covers the entire backbone of our peninsula, and the Cammino dei Parchi, which stretches from L’Aquila to Rome throughout protected natural areas
lago di Scandarello
As an alternative, you can take an easier route which leads to the nearby Lago di Scandarello, where, during summer nights, it is possible to contemplate the sky free of light pollution and, with a bit of luck, to spot a shooting star.
The lake is an artificial basin dating back to 1921, created by the construction of a dam across the Scandarello stream. During the Second World War, the dam was in danger of being blown up after being mined by Nazi-Fascist troops. It was the courage of a local girl who raised the alarm and enabled the entire population to quickly remove the mines, saving the whole Tronto Valley from flooding.
Pasta all’Amatriciana
Amatrice boasts an ancient gastronomic tradition based on local products. The most famous dish is undoubtedly the Spaghetti all’Amatriciana, once garnished only with pork jaw bacon and pecorino cheese, as tomato was added later, in 1700. This recipe achieved fame throughout the world, so much that a survey carried out in 2024 by the Unione Italiana Food and International Pasta Organisation includes Pasta all’Amatriciana among the Italian dishes preferred by foreign tourists.
In 2026, the first International Amatriciana Day was celebrated on 6 March. The date marks the day on which the recipe was recognised as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) by the European Commission, on 6 March 2020.
Polo del Gusto e della Tradizione
The Polo del Gusto e della Tradizione is a public space designed by the architect Boeri, which hosts all local restaurants. The project, born immediately after the 2016 earthquake, helped the inhabitants of Amatrice to safeguard the economy of the territory through its most important activities.
Laboratorio Rinascita
In the large square, alongside the restaurants, stands the Laboratorio Rinascita, a major restoration centre set up to preserve and restore works of art recovered from churches and buildings destroyed by the 2016 earthquake. A symbol of cultural rebirth, the workplace has already facilitated the restoration of the organ at the Chiesa del Suffragio in Amatrice and of numerous large canvases from the churches of Amatrice and Accumoli, now on display in the new Floriana Svizzeretto Civic Museum.
In this extraordinary workplace, conceived by the association Lo spirito nel tempo in collaboration with the municipality of Amatrice, the Varrone Foundation and the Superintendency of Archaeology and Fine Arts of Rome and Rieti, the conservator Stefania Zucconi lives and works. In her workplace, which is always open to the public, she welcomes visitors and explains the main stages of her valuable work.
Loom weaving workshop in the “Casa delle Donne di Amatrice e Frazioni”
At the same time, in the nearby hamlet of Torrita, the Casa delle Donne di Amatrice e Frazioni was founded, a pleasant space immersed in nature, where workshops are organised by local women, who, combining passion and knowledge, spread their culture teaching the art of ceramics, loom weaving, cooking and much more.
Just a few hundred metres from the small hamlet of Configno lies the Orie Terme Nature Reserve, a nature park teeming with springs, where you can stroll along a beautiful path accompanied by a local guide.
Here, amongst ancient trees and an extraordinary array of wildlife, consisting mainly of a small community of fallow bucks and deer, you can enjoy a rejuvenating experience surrounded by unspoilt nature. It really is not to be missed.
Big Bench n. 246 in Amatrice
The bright white and magenta Big Bench 246, nestled among apple and cherry orchards at an altitude of 1000 metres, offers a 360° view of the village and the surrounding landscape. From here, you can also comfortably admire the Monti della Laga and the Conca Amatriciana. The Bench is reachable from the parking lot through a short, easy path along the apple orchard.
Interesting events attract many visitors to Amatrice all around the year: the traditional Sagra degli Spaghetti all’Amatriciana on the last weekend of August, the Festa dell’Autunno and the Rievocazione del Pane dei Santi on All Saints’ Day, the Festa della Primavera, with a flower and craft market, and the “gnocchi ricci” cooking workshop.