Villalago
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
Settlers drawn by the monastery of St Dominic founded this village around the year 1000, on a height above the Sagittario gorges beneath Monte Genzana. The saint's hermitage still stands by the small lake named after him, built against the cave where he lived, and each August pilgrims arrive after an 80 km walk from Fornelli. The municipality reaches the shores of Lago di Scanno.
Highlights
- Eremo di San Domenico, a chapel opening onto the saint's cave
- The round Lombard tower of the rocca and the museum of old crafts
- Lago di Scanno and the smaller Lago di San Domenico
- An underwater nativity scene in Lago di San Domenico around 26 December
- Le Fanoglie, bonfires lit across the village on 21–22 January
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Villalago (IT), Villalago (EN)), Wikivoyage (Villalago). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 511
Things to see
Events through the year
- Le FanoglieBonfires lit in the village's districts
- Feast of Saint Anthony and Our Lady of Graces
- Pilgrimage in honour of Saint DominicPilgrims end an 80 km walk from Fornelli here
- Rievocazione antico matrimonio villalagheseTraditional local wedding re-enacted in period costume
- Feast of Saint Dominic
- Feast of Our Lady of SorrowsEnds with a night torchlight procession, ring cakes and wine
- Underwater nativity sceneNativity scene set in Lake San Domenico
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Villalago), Wikivoyage (Villalago). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Specialities of Abruzzo
Typical of the region rather than of this village.
- Confetti di SulmonaSweet
Ventricina vastesePublic domainVentricinaCured meat
Adapted from Wikipedia (Cucina abruzzese). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
4 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 4
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
- Thermal spa: Terme Alte · ~1 h by car
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Scanno · 4.8 km
- Anversa degli Abruzzi · 7.3 km
- Introdacqua · 9.3 km
- Bugnara · 10 km
- Pettorano sul Gizio · 11 km