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
By car
Getting there
- By car: A24 and A25 with the Magliano de’ Marsi, Avezzano, Aielli-Celano and Pescina exits; from Celano the SS 696 climbs to Ovindoli and the Altopiano delle Rocche.
- By train: Rome–Avezzano–Pescara line, with stops at Avezzano and along the edge of the Fucino.
- By bus: TUA lines from Avezzano to the villages; see Abruzzo without a car.
The village
Magliano de’ Marsi 728 m
Altitude
728 m
Municipality
Magliano de’ Marsi
In the middle of the Piani Palentini, dominated by the Velino massif. The «sentiero del Grifone» to Celano, the «percorso Slow» to Massa d’Albe and Alba Fucens and the Cammino dei Briganti start here.
Things to do
Did you know? From Epiphany to Carnival the «gioco del cacio» is played, dating from 1752: a large wheel of cheese is thrown one-handed along the Tornoterra circuit.
Local food
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Grilled castrato mutton — Castrato mutton chops on the grill, a home favourite around L’Aquila.
- Sagne e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) — Homemade flour-and-water pasta cut into pieces and cooked with chickpeas: a humble, tasty mountain first course.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Magliano de’ Marsi: 0863 1856444
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Magliano de’ Marsi
- Trattorias and restaurants in Magliano de’ Marsi: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Rosciolo dei Marsi 909 m
Altitude
909 m
Municipality
Magliano de’ Marsi
A hamlet of Magliano on the slopes of the Velino, with its 15th-century walled village. Just outside stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta.
Things to do
Did you know? On the road to Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta there is the «salita in discesa», an uphill-downhill: an optical illusion makes things seem to roll uphill.
Local food
- Marsica truffles — Black winter, summer scorzone and white truffles in the woods of the Marsica.
- Grilled castrato mutton — Castrato mutton chops on the grill, a home favourite around L’Aquila.
- Polenta on the wooden board — Polenta poured onto the wooden board with sausage sauce and eaten by everyone together.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Magliano de’ Marsi: 0863 1856444
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Rosciolo dei Marsi
- Trattorias and restaurants in Rosciolo dei Marsi: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Massa d’Albe 865 m
Altitude
865 m
Municipality
Massa d’Albe
A village below Monte Cafornia, at the mouth of the Majelama valley that separates the Velino from the Magnola. Its territory includes the archaeological site of Alba Fucens, a Roman town with forum, amphitheatre and the Romanesque church of San Pietro, and the hamlet of Forme.
Things to do
Did you know? In August the hamlet of Forme holds the festival of the «croccante», the village’s typical almond brittle.
Local food
- Arrosticini — Mutton skewers grilled over embers, the symbol of Abruzzo cooking.
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Grilled lamb and coratella — Lamb chops on the embers and coratella (offal) in the pan with onion and artichokes.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Massa d’Albe: 0863 519144
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Massa d’Albe
- Trattorias and restaurants in Massa d’Albe: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Forme 1,020 m
Altitude
1,020 m
Municipality
Massa d’Albe
A hamlet of Massa d’Albe at about 1,000 metres, the starting point of the classic climb of Monte Velino up the Majelama valley, with the Sebastiani hut on the way. The Fonte Capo la Maina pass leads to Ovindoli.
Things to do
Did you know? The Majelama valley, climbing from Forme towards the Velino, marks the boundary between the Velino group and the Magnola mountains.
Local food
- Arrosticini — Mutton skewers grilled over embers, the symbol of Abruzzo cooking.
- Pecora alla callara — Mutton cooked for hours in a copper cauldron with herbs and chilli, the shepherds’ dish.
- Polenta on the wooden board — Polenta poured onto the wooden board with sausage sauce and eaten by everyone together.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Massa d’Albe: 0863 519144
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Forme
- Trattorias and restaurants in Forme: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Celano 840 m
Altitude
840 m
Municipality
Celano
The town of Piccolomini Castle, home to the Marsica museum of sacred art, set below Monte Tino (the Serra di Celano). It is the gateway to the Celano gorges and, via the SS 696, to the Ovindoli slopes on the Magnola.
Things to do
- Trekking in the Celano gorges
- Skiing at Ovindoli on Monte Magnola
- Avezzano and the Marsica
- Getting here from Rome without a car
Did you know? The «sentiero del Grifone» links Scurcola Marsicana to Celano via Magliano, Massa d’Albe and Ovindoli: a long walk at the foot of the Velino and Magnola.
Local food
- Grilled castrato mutton — Castrato mutton chops on the grill, a home favourite around L’Aquila.
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Gnocchi with castrato ragù — Homemade potato gnocchi with castrato mutton ragù, the L’Aquila way.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Celano: 0863 79541
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Celano
- Crosta e Mollica Piazza IV Novembre, Celano · 329 956 5014
- Ristorante La Torre Via Luigi Giuliani, 33, Celano · 338 153 9501
- Trattorias and restaurants in Celano: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Aielli 1,021 m
Altitude
1,021 m
Municipality
Aielli
The old village, above 1,000 metres, is one of the highest in the Marsica, on a rocky spur below the Sirente. The Celano gorges open out in its territory.
Things to do
Did you know? Aielli’s walls have become an open-air gallery: large murals by international artists, including the Spaniard Okuda San Miguel.
Local food
- Pecora alla callara — Mutton cooked for hours in a copper cauldron with herbs and chilli, the shepherds’ dish.
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Grilled castrato mutton — Castrato mutton chops on the grill, a home favourite around L’Aquila.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Aielli: 0863 789654
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Aielli
- Hotel Paradiso Località Margine, 7, Aielli · 0863 791774
- Casa Verde Via Stazione, 3, Aielli · 389 119 9160
- Trattorias and restaurants in Aielli: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Cerchio 834 m
Altitude
834 m
Municipality
Cerchio
A village on Colle Corbarolo, on the slopes of the Sirente, overlooking the Fucino. The Sirente separates it from the Valle Subequana.
Things to do
Did you know? Every 24 August a historical procession, the «Bulla Indulgentiarum», recalls the bull with which Pope Boniface VIII granted indulgences to the church of San Bartolomeo in 1300.
Local food
- Pecora alla callara — Mutton cooked for hours in a copper cauldron with herbs and chilli, the shepherds’ dish.
- Arrosticini — Mutton skewers grilled over embers, the symbol of Abruzzo cooking.
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Cerchio: 0863 78116
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Cerchio
- Bar Caffetteria Ciofani Piazza Sandro Pertini, Cerchio · 392 135 4671
- Trattorias and restaurants in Cerchio: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Collarmele 835 m
Altitude
835 m
Municipality
Collarmele
A village between the Rimagi, Coppetella and Ventrino mountains, on the border with the Valle Subequana, reached over the Forca Caruso pass.
Things to do
Did you know? This was the site of Cerfennia, a fortified Marsi town on the ancient route of the Via Valeria.
Local food
- Pecora alla callara — Mutton cooked for hours in a copper cauldron with herbs and chilli, the shepherds’ dish.
- Grilled lamb and coratella — Lamb chops on the embers and coratella (offal) in the pan with onion and artichokes.
- Sagne e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) — Homemade flour-and-water pasta cut into pieces and cooked with chickpeas: a humble, tasty mountain first course.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Collarmele: 0863 78126
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Collarmele
- Trattorias and restaurants in Collarmele: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Pescina 735 m
Altitude
735 m
Municipality
Pescina
On the eastern edge of the Fucino, in the Giovenco valley, it is the «first gateway» to the Abruzzo National Park along the A25. It is the home town of Ignazio Silone, with the places of his novels and the prize named after him.
Things to do
Did you know? Along the SS 83 Marsicana stands the fountain that, according to tradition, inspired the title of Ignazio Silone’s novel «Fontamara».
Local food
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Marsica truffles — Black winter, summer scorzone and white truffles in the woods of the Marsica.
- Grilled lamb and coratella — Lamb chops on the embers and coratella (offal) in the pan with onion and artichokes.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Pescina: 0863 84281
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Pescina
- Trattorias and restaurants in Pescina: search on TripAdvisor
At the table
Food and traditions
Local dishes and products, with the recipes and guides on our site.
Here mountain cooking meets the produce of the Fucino: IGP potatoes and carrots, mutton and lamb, Marsica truffles, pulses and homemade pasta such as Celano’s «tacquelòzze» with mutton ragù.
- Fucino potatoes and carrots PGI — Potatoes and carrots from the reclaimed Fucino plain, two Abruzzo PGIs.
- Marsica truffles — Black winter, summer scorzone and white truffles in the woods of the Marsica.
- Grilled castrato mutton — Castrato mutton chops on the grill, a home favourite around L’Aquila.
- Gnocchi with castrato ragù — Homemade potato gnocchi with castrato mutton ragù, the L’Aquila way.
- Arrosticini — Mutton skewers grilled over embers, the symbol of Abruzzo cooking.
- Grilled lamb and coratella — Lamb chops on the embers and coratella (offal) in the pan with onion and artichokes.
- Sagne e ceci (pasta with chickpeas) — Homemade flour-and-water pasta cut into pieces and cooked with chickpeas: a humble, tasty mountain first course.
- Pecora alla callara — Mutton cooked for hours in a copper cauldron with herbs and chilli, the shepherds’ dish.