Navelli
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
Saffron put Navelli on the map: a monk of the local Santucci family is said to have brought the crocus from Spain, and the plain below still grows Zafferano dell'Aquila DOP. The village climbs a south-facing hillside at about 760 metres, its medieval core giving way to a Renaissance quarter. The castle tower is now the campanile of San Sebastiano, and a baronial palace stands on its ruins.
Highlights
- Zafferano dell'Aquila, the DOP saffron grown on the Navelli plain
- San Sebastiano church, its bell tower a former medieval watchtower
- Santa Maria in Cerulis, a trapezoid church built over an Italic temple
- Madonna del Rosario church, with painted vaults and a large Baroque organ
- The medieval tower of the hamlet of Civitaretenga
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Navelli (IT), Navelli (EN)), Wikivoyage (Navelli). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 537
Events through the year
- Feast of Saint Sebastian
- Chickpea and saffron sagraSaffron and chickpea dishes and local produce in Piazza San Pelino
- Palio degli AsiniParade of floats, then a donkey race between districts along Via Pereto
- Vivi il TratturoRevives the drove-road tradition during the Madonna dell'Arco feast
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Navelli), Wikivoyage (Navelli). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Zafferano dell'Aquila PDOLocal produceProtected saffron grown on the Navelli plateau and nearby towns
- Local chickpeasLocal produceCooked in dishes at the August chickpea and saffron festival
Adapted from Wikipedia (Navelli), Wikivoyage (Navelli). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
4 places to stay within 3 km
- B&Bs and guest houses 3
- Hostels 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Santo Stefano di Sessanio · 14 km
- Castel del Monte · 14 km
- Abbateggio · 24 km
- Caramanico Terme · 26 km
- Bugnara · 26 km