San Donato Val di Comino, at 728 meters above sea level, in a dominant position over Val Comino, is known as the town of stonecutters, an ideal place for lovers of ancient traditions, nature and outdoor activities.
The winding alleys of the village
The historic core is a stone labyrinth with winding streets, alleys, covered passages (spuort’ in dialect) and small squares in a perfect medieval design, which also had defensive purposes against the climate (the alleys break the force of the freezing wind).
Steep stairs lead to Largo San Donato, the heart of the ancient Castle, where the Sanctuary of the same name is located.
The facades of the buildings in San Donato Val di Comino
The Tower stands over the town, oriented according to the sun and, like a compass, indicates the four cardinal points.
A precious keystone
Walking through the main streets of the town, do not miss the keystones that adorn the buildings, a living testimony of the work of the Stonemasons from San Donato. These are small works of art rich in symbols that identified the social class of the families.
The masks on the portals were intended to ward off the monaciello, the local folkloristic elf.
Going up along Via Maggiore – opened in the 16th century with the development of the town downstream – you come across the so-called “scandal stone” (16th century), because the insolvent debtor sat on it.
Foliage at Forca d’Acero
Located within the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, San Donato Val di Comino is an obligatory passage for those who want to cross the Forca d’Acero pass at 1538 metres above sea level, one of the most beautiful and evocative Apennine passes in the centre of Italy.
Among the ancient traditional dishes, we find the singular Cipollata, a single dish of onion, cheese and eggs.
San Donato Val di Comino is an Orange Flag village, a prestigious recognition awarded by the Italian Touring Club for the quality of tourism-environmental development.