Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report
The most popular ski resorts, the updated snow report and useful information on how to find lifts or book accommodation for your winter holiday
Where it is
🏔️ Between Monte Tino and the Fucino plain
The town looks over the reclaimed plain; above it rise the Sirente-Velino mountains.
Celano stands high above the Fucino plain, on the slopes of Monte Tino, also called Serra di Celano (1,923 m). Part of the municipality lies in the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. Until the 19th century Lake Fucino, the third largest in Italy, lay below the town: Alessandro Torlonia drained it between 1855 and 1878, and today the plain is one of Italy’s largest vegetable gardens.
The municipality also includes the villages of the plain, such as Borgo Ottomila and Borgo Strada 14. The SS696 road climbs from Celano to Ovindoli and the Altopiano delle Rocche.
History and art
🏰 The castle, the churches and the museums
Piccolomini castle
The castle on top of the hill is the symbol of the town: Count Pietro Berardi began it at the end of the 14th century, and Count Lionello Accrocciamuro and Countess Jacovella completed it in the 15th; in 1463 the county passed to Antonio Todeschini Piccolomini, nephew of Pope Pius II, who gave it its name. Inside are the Museum of Sacred Art of the Marsica, with frescoes, paintings and sacred objects from the 6th to the 18th century, and the Torlonia Collection of antiquities, with the finds unearthed after the draining of the Fucino. Phone 0863 793730; opening hours change with the seasons, call first.
Paludi Museum (MUSÈ)
On the plain, where a Bronze Age pile-dwelling village once stood, the museum displays the prehistoric and protohistoric finds of the Marsica and a multimedia section on how the landscape changed after the reclamation.
The churches
The 13th-century church of San Giovanni Battista holds the remains of the martyr saints Simplicio, Costanzo and Vittoriano and 15th-century frescoes. Santa Maria Valleverde, from 1508, is the Franciscan convent founded by the counts of Celano: inside are paintings by Paolo Zoppo, the frescoed crypt and, upstairs, a museum and a library. In the old town, below the castle, there are also San Francesco, Sant’Angelo and the Madonna del Carmine.
Thomas of Celano
Brother Thomas, the first biographer of Saint Francis of Assisi, came from Celano; Francis passed through here between 1219 and 1222. The town has a monument to him.
On foot
🥾 The Celano Gorge and the trails
The La Foce stream has carved a four-kilometre ravine between the Sirente and Monte Tino.
The Celano Gorge runs down from the Val d’Arano, above Ovindoli, to the plain: rock walls about 200 metres high, narrows of three metres and, near the end, the small waterfall of the «Fonte degli innamorati» (Lovers’ Spring). In summer the bed is dry; after rain and snowmelt the stream swells and the gorge becomes dangerous. Routes, times and tips on our page Hiking the Celano Gorge.
From the town also start the trails of Monte Tino, along the ridge to the Val d’Arano, and the «Sentiero del Grifone», which links Scurcola Marsicana to Celano through Magliano de’ Marsi, Massa d’Albe and Ovindoli. For the Sirente: north-eastern face of Monte Sirente and the park’s hiking guide.
Winter
⛷️ The slopes a quarter of an hour away
Celano has no lifts of its own, but the SS696 takes you in about 12 km (a quarter of an hour) to the Ovindoli Monte Magnola ski area, with slopes from about 1,500 to 2,000 metres. Continuing towards Rocca di Mezzo you reach Campo Felice. Snow and lifts open today in the snow report.
Traditions
🎉 Festivals and traditions
- 24–26 August: patron feast of the martyr saints Simplicio, Costanzo and Vittoriano.
- Good Friday: the procession of the seven confraternities, with the polyphonic chants of the addolorate, the veroniche and the angels.
- 22 May: feast of Saint Rita.
- Since 1963 the castle has hosted the International Triennial of Sacred Art.
Cuisine
🍝 The food of Celano
Before the reclamation people ate fish from the lake; today the plain gives the Fucino potato and carrot (PGI). Home-style dishes include «tacquelòzze», diamond-shaped pasta with mutton sauce, lasagna with tiny meatballs and gnocchi; in the mountains potatoes and saffron are grown. More park products in Flavours of the parks, all the recipes in Abruzzo’s traditional cuisine.
Hospitality
🍽️ Where to eat and stay in Celano
Restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, B&Bs, holiday homes, museums and supermarkets: open the list. For each one address, phone, map and, where available, website and Tripadvisor.
🍽️ Where to eat and stay in Celano (65)
🍽️ Eat (25)
- Agricampeggio e Agriturismo La Chimera dei Marsi Farm stay (agriturismo) Località Margine 392 6052290 Map
- Alaturca Pub, sandwiches and quick food Via Oreste Ranelletti, 151 Map
- Birr i Pizz Pizzeria Via Dietro Castello, 15 380 4170612 MapTripadvisor
- Bisteccheria da Marco e Francesca Restaurant Via Don Minzoni, 22 393 1438602 Map
- Burger Castello Pub, sandwiches and quick food Via Porta Nuova, 4 392 7353409 MapSocial
- Crosta e Mollica Restaurant P.za IV Novembre, 18 329 9565014 MapInstagram
- Fabbrica Dei Sapori Restaurant Via del Fosso 366 1149119 MapTripadvisor
- Hotel Ristorante Mastrodattia Restaurant Via Luigi Giuliani, 35 338 1539501 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Il Girasole 2.0 Restaurant, Pizzeria Via Luigi Giuliani 366 1282469 Map
- Il Rifugio Restaurant Via Margine, 15 0863 791554 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- La Birraia Pub, sandwiches and quick food SS696 Dir, 27 366 3591816 Map
- La Locanda Del Castello Restaurant Via Luigi Giuliani, 39 327 7013313 MapTripadvisor
- La Terrazza Restaurant Via Fontegrande, 242 347 2542600 MapTripadvisor
- Locanda Madonna delle Vigne Restaurant Vico S. Michele, 8 393 2849854 MapTripadvisor
- Osteria degli Artisti Restaurant Via Capo del Colle, 26 328 4185101 MapTripadvisorFacebook
- Passione Le Bistrot Pizzeria Via del Castello 366 3196368 Map
- Pecorabianca Pizzeria Rustica Pizzeria Via Roma, 1 0863 790089 Map
- PizzArt Celano Pizzeria Corso Umberto I, 15 347 4081301 MapWebsite
- Pizzeria da Cesarina Pizzeria Via Luigi Giuliani, 7 0863 792281 MapTripadvisor
- Pizzeria Fidanza Orietta Pizzeria Via dell'Aia, 91 0863 472507 Map
- Ristorante Cittadella Restaurant, Pizzeria Via Michele Carusi 0863 791293 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Ristorante Da Rita Restaurant Via della Stanga, 1 0863 792359 Map
- Ristorante Ferraro Restaurant Via Oreste Ranelletti, 279 0863 793656 MapWebsite
- Ristorante La Torre Restaurant Via Luigi Giuliani, 33 338 1539501 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Ristorante Le Foci di Aielli-Celano Restaurant, Pizzeria Via Le Foci e Gole di Celano 329 1937598 MapTripadvisor
🛏️ Sleep (33)
- A Casa dei Miei Holiday home Via Aldo Rossi, 14 329 1936245 Map
- Affittacamere Al Vecchio Mulino Sott la Forma B&B and guest rooms Via Giotto, 42 375 6136826 MapWebsite
- Agricampeggio e Agriturismo La Chimera dei Marsi Farm stay (agriturismo), Campsite Località Margine 392 6052290 Map
- B&B Alba B&B and guest rooms Via S. Gabriele 380 5233784 MapInstagram
- B&B Alle Coste Gluten Free B&B and guest rooms Via Aterno, 33 Map
- B&B Arco dei Sogni B&B and guest rooms SS 696 del Parco Regionale Sirente-Velino 327 1183075 MapWebsite
- B&B Bellavista B&B and guest rooms Via Benedetto Croce, 35 328 9645690 MapTripadvisor
- B&B La casetta di Cecè B&B and guest rooms Via Corsignani, 54 393 1324265 MapWebsite
- B&B Leonardo Da Vinci B&B and guest rooms Via Fonte Grande, 101 328 7144529 Map
- B&B Marilù B&B and guest rooms Via Ciavattella, 57 333 3558755 Map
- B&B Nonno Loreto B&B and guest rooms Via Luigi Giuliani, 60 351 7365816 Map
- B&B Santa Maria Valleverde B&B and guest rooms Via Don Minzoni, 63 349 0865379 MapWebsite
- C'Era Una Volta Apartment Holiday home Via Filippo Carusi, 18 377 1454909 Map
- Casa vacanza A casa di Nonna Rina Holiday home Via Fontegrande, 1 345 9371164 Map
- Casa Vacanza Nanna Edo Holiday home Via Liri, 15 347 0415678 Map
- Casa vacanze A casa di nonna Holiday home Via dell'Aia, 95 345 9371164 Map
- Case Vacanza Ignazio Silone Holiday home Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 29 339 3168343 Map
- Girasole Holiday home Via Fontegrande, 95 392 2392308 MapWebsite
- Hotel Il Fortino Hotel 320 3009335 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Hotel Lory Hotel Via Oreste Ranelletti, 335 0863 793656 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Hotel Residence Il Feudo dei Pierleoni Hotel MapTripadvisorWebsite
- Hotel Ristorante Mastrodattia Hotel Via Luigi Giuliani, 35 338 1539501 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- House Nonna Nina B&B and guest rooms Via Oreste Ranelletti, 98 349 2706639 Map
- Il Balcone sulla Marsica Holiday home Via Fontanelle, 72 329 1936245 Map
- Il Bijoux Holiday home Via Capo del Colle, 41 Map
- Il Mughetto Hotel Via Giuseppe del Pezzo, 18 347 5312510 MapWebsite
- Il Vicoletto B&B and guest rooms Via Capo del Colle, 2 328 0682008 Map
- La Casa di Athina Holiday home Via Silvio Pellico, 7 377 9445831 MapWebsite
- La Contessa Holiday home Via Capo del Colle Map
- La Vista dei Sogni Holiday home Via Muranuove, 31 392 1205886 MapWebsite
- Lorenzo il Magnifico B&B and guest rooms Via Luigi Giuliani, 66 320 9777965 Map
- Ranieri Guest House B&B and guest rooms Via Don Minzoni, 20 392 3005050 MapWebsite
- Vittoria House Holiday home Via Collementana, 58 MapWebsite
🏛️ Museums (2)
- Castello Piccolomini - Collezione Torlonia e Museo d'Arte Sacra della Marsica Museum Largo Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto 0863 793730 MapTripadvisorWebsite
- MUSÈ Museo Paludi Museum Località Paludi MapWebsite
🛒 Groceries (7)
- Coop Celano Supermarket S.S. Tiburtina Valeria km 125+600 0863 793732 MapWebsite
- Gran Risparmio Super Supermarket Via della Torre, 26 0863 793551 MapWebsite
- iN's Mercato Supermarket Via della Torre, 233/235 375 5602975 MapWebsite
- Sisa Supermarket Via Filippo Carusi, 35 Map
- Supermercato Coal Supermarket Via della Torre, 27 0863 1863742 Map
- Supermercato Tigre Supermarket Rione Vaschette, 32 0863 711007 MapWebsite
- Todis Supermarket Via Sardellino, 7 0863 791699 MapWebsite
🔎 Search all of Abruzzo · Data checked on Google Maps, Tripadvisor and the businesses’ websites.
Travel
🚗 Getting there
By car: A25 motorway Rome – Pescara, Celano exit; Rome is about 120 km away. From the town the SS696 climbs to Ovindoli and the Altopiano delle Rocche. By train: Celano-Ovindoli station is on the Rome – Avezzano – Pescara railway. Avezzano is about 13 km away, Pescina 17. Getting around Abruzzo.
Contacts
☎️ Useful numbers
- Municipality of Celano: 0863 79541 · municipal website
- Piccolomini castle and museums: 0863 793730
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
Nearby
🧭 Nearby
- Aielli, with the Borgo Universo murals and the tower of the astronomical observatory, home of the Moon Museum
- Ovindoli and the Altopiano delle Rocche
- Avezzano and the Marsica
- Villages of the Marsica, Velino and Magnola
- Sirente-Velino Regional Park
