Pescorocchiano, a small mountain village in the province of Rieti, rises 800 metres above the sea level on a rocky ridge overlooking the Valle del Salto River. It is immersed in the Apennine Mountains, from where it is possible to enjoy stunning views over the oak and chestnut woods in the Carseolani Mountains, large natural pastures and the beautiful terraces in the Velino Chain.
View of Pescorocchiano photo @camminodeiparchi.it
The name Pescorocchiano derives from the word pesco (or peschio), meaning a high and steep place, also present in many toponyms of central and southern Italy, and The second word is rocchiano, which probably described in the Middle Ages a place on a rock spur.
In the historical centre, once stood the Palazzo Baronale dei Baldinotti, of which only a precious ashlar arch remains. From here, we can admire some of the twenty-seven hamlets within the territory of Pescorocchiano, many of which are enhanced by the stunning view of Lago del Salto.
Grotte Val de Varri in Pescorocchiano photo @ grottevaldevarri.it
Pescorocchiano is also known as the Village of Caves, due to its many karst phenomena, such as the Grotte di Val de’ Varri, a complex of cavities, both fossil and active, on the southern slope of Monte Sant’Angelo. The place, safeguarded by the “Ministero dei Beni Culturali”, preserves numerous artifacts witnessing a first settlement in the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BC). Today, the finds are displayed partly in the “Museo Pigorini” in Rome and partly in the Museo Archeologico Cicolano in Corvaro.. The Grotte di Val de’ Varri are now a renowned tourist attraction, visitable both along an extraordinary tourist route or through a speleological experience led by expert guides.
In the Valle del Salto, we can also enjoy the opportunity to take a walk along the two main routes which intertwine here, the “Sentiero Europeo” and the “Sentiero Italia”. Other historical itineraries intersecting each other in this area are “the Corradino, the Cippi di Confine, and the Brigands’ Paths”. Pescorocchiano is also one of the stops of the “Cammino Naturale dei Parchi”.
The red chestnuts from the Cicolano Area
Pescorocchiano hosts, at the beginning of November, the unmissable Festival of the Red Chestnut from Cicolano, where visitors will be able to taste this delicious IGP product, thanks to the presence of centuries-old luxuriant chestnut groves.