A day trip to 2 hours from Rome …. the return to the Middle Ages
The name Pacinus, Pacinos, Pacine, Pacino: there are many conjectures about the origin of the place name. Probably it is linked to the name of some ancient borough, perhaps of Latin origin, as it would be supposed to find in the area of factories, tombstones and sepulchres. The legend tells that Pacinus, a trojan hero, left Enea on the banks of the Tiber, came for Sannio and arrived at the foot of Monte Morrone founded Pacentro. History VIII cent., The first mention of Pacentro is with the donation to the monastery of S. Vincenzo al Volturno of the church of Sancti Leopardo in Pacentru by the dukes of Spoleto Lupo and Ildebrando. X-XI century, the castle was erected to defend the population of the Peligna Valley, threatened by Saracen and Normanni raids.
Around it the first houses and churches arise, and the village’s economy develops. Approximately 1170, the Catalog of Barons of the Kingdom of Naples informs that the Pacentro Castle is inhabited by 48 families. 1270 ca.-1464, caldus period. With the re-emergence of the controversy between Aragonesi and Angioini for succession to the Kingdom of Naples, Pacentro becomes one of the pinnacles of the Angevin struggle against the Aragonese supported by Sulmona.
Under Giacomo Caldora Pacentro finds the way to develop and also knows a period of relative well-being. The defeat of the Angevins in 1464 overwhelms Antonio Caldora who loses all his lands. 1483-1612, the feud is owned by the Naples branch of the Orsini family. With the advent of the Aragonese dynasty, the new feudalists make substantial changes to the castle. 1613-1624, Pacentro belongs to Captain Antonio Domenico De Sanctis. 1626-1648, dismembered by the creditors, the feud comes to the Columns, principles of Zagarolo. 1664, the Royal Court of Naples sells the castle at Maffeo Barberini, to which the Marquis Recupito of Raiano take over, holding it until the abolition of feudalism.
In the 20th century, after being involved in the decades following the unification of Italy, the phenomenon of brigandage, the village was struck during the twentieth century by two waves of emigration at the beginning of the century and then in the 1940s and ’60, causing its depopulation.





Mountain hikes in the Maiella National Park, trekking and walks. Pacentro is the natural gate and at the same time the heart of Maiella National Park. The village is 700 m altitude but the altitude of its territory ranges from 430 to almost 2800 m of Mount Amaro, the peak of Maiella.
It is therefore a very mountain village, from which it is easy to climb altitude to ensure the most beautiful panoramic views and admire a flora of great naturalistic value. Excursions and walks always lead you to wonderful places, such as the Walloon Falls or the San Leonardo Pass.
Several sources, clear and fresh, cover the undergrowths where foxes, squirrels, weasels, birds of prey and even some wolves appear for a moment and disappear immediately. In the forests reigns the beech, whose crowns are oak trees, pine forests, holm oak, maple and hornbeam.
Procession On Good Friday: Easter rites are very much felt and suggestive of the procession. Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, April 25: The party is accompanied by a small fair of agriculture. Polta Festival, First decade of August: in a country with a great gastronomic tradition, the culinary party could not be missed. The cookie is a tasty vegetable dish made from boiled vegetables and then stuffed in a pan with garlic and chili pepper. The Arrogancing of the Armed People By Antonio Caldora, August 16-17: historical reenactment in the costume of the enlistment and the investiture of the knights by the Lord of Pacentro in the Year Domini 1450. The procession starts from the castle and winds through the evocative alleys of the ancient village. Feast of Our Lady of Loreto and Race of Gypsies, First Sunday of September: the sacred and the profane mingle in this race that sees a group of young people running barefoot on the tricolor boulder on the Ardinghi hill, in front of the village, up to the river Vella, and then climb to an ancient promenade Of the countryside, to the church of Our Lady of Loreto. The winner is rewarded with a piece of cloth, a kind of handful of poor times, from which a dress was obtained. There are those who see in this tradition even the memory of the youth games of the Romans, or the selection of warriors by Giacomo Caldora. Madonna’s Feast Of the Holy Rosary, October 7th. Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, November 4th. It is the party of hot-air balloons painted by the Brotherhoods.
The gastronomy is characterized by sobriety and reflects the traditions of a simple life, which for food is based solely on local products. The excellent meats are provided by cattle raised in mountain pastures rich in aromatic herbs, which then transfer the unique flavor to dairy products. The olive groves and the vineyards find in the gentle hillsides the ideal habitat for quality production. From this natural harmony of colors, smells and flavors, the desire to rediscover ancient recipes was born: such as macaroni on guitar with gravy and grited meatballs sprinkled with a scented pecorino, boiled octopus sheep, ricotta ravioli, the gnocchi with sheep’s gravy and finally the cookie that has become the symbol of the culinary festival. Also this is a peasant dish made with simple ingredients: garlic and chilli peppered in extra virgin olive oil with added cabbage, potatoes and boiled beans.
In Pacentro, artistic craftsmanship is a centuries-old tradition and consists of the work of the white stone of Maiella, of terracotta statues for the crib, the crochet filets and the Abruzzi women’s costumes. In particular, the work of the terracotta – which had its master in Peppino Avolio (1883-1962), author of mammuccje for the crib staring at the clay, the ornaments and colors of folklore among the most interesting d’Italy – is recovering after a period of decay, thanks to good craftsmen. The ancient art of the stonecutter in Abruzzo has over the centuries produced the masterpieces that can be admired in the decorations of houses, churches and palaces in the historic centers.