Sulmona and Scanno day trip from L'Aquila or Pescara or Rome
A day trip to Sulmona and Scanno from L'Aquila, Pescara or Rome: the cathedral of San Panfilo, Corso Ovidio and the statue of the poet Ovid, Piazza Garibaldi under the medieval aqueduct and the Pelino confetti museum, then up the Sagittario gorge to Lake San Domenico and its hermitage, the Sentiero del Cuore above the heart-shaped lake, the Madonna del Lago on Lake Scanno and the old village of Scanno. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Sulmona and Scanno in 1 day
Day 1
Sulmona Cathedral
Sulmona's cathedral of San Panfilo at the north end of the old town, with a medieval crypt below its later Baroque interior.
Historic centre of Sulmona (Corso Ovidio and the Ovid statue)
Sulmona's main street of churches, palaces and confetti shops, with the bronze statue of Ovid, the Roman poet born in the town.
Piazza Garibaldi and the medieval aqueduct, Sulmona
Large square crossed by the arches of a thirteenth-century aqueduct, with a Renaissance fountain and the town's market.
Pelino confetti museum
Museum in the historic Pelino works, showing the old machines and tools used to make Sulmona's sugared almonds, with the shop beside it.
Gole del Sagittario gorge
Narrow limestone gorge of the Sagittario river, a nature reserve, where the road to Scanno winds between steep rock walls.
Lake San Domenico and the Hermitage
Small green lake below Villalago with the hermitage of Saint Dominic, built by the cave where the saint lived, reached by a footbridge.
Sentiero del Cuore (heart-shaped lake viewpoint)
Footpath climbing above Lake Scanno to the viewpoint from which the lake takes the shape of a heart.
Lake Scanno and the Madonna del Lago church
The largest natural lake in Abruzzo, below Scanno, with the little church of the Madonna del Lago on its shore and paths by the water.
Historic centre of Scanno (Santa Maria della Valle)
Mountain village of stone houses and stepped lanes round the church of Santa Maria della Valle, made famous by photographers.
Getting there
A car is needed for Scanno. Sulmona is about an hour by car from Pescara and from L'Aquila and about two hours from Rome, and it also has trains from Pescara and Rome. From Sulmona the road to Scanno climbs through the narrow Gole del Sagittario, about 40 minutes.
Staying in L'Aquila or Pescara or Rome? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Sulmona and Scanno
Late spring to early autumn is the best time, with green mountains and open roads to Scanno. Summer is cooler than the coast, and Sulmona holds its Giostra Cavalleresca, a medieval joust, in Piazza Garibaldi in late July. Winter is cold, with snow in the mountains around Scanno.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Sulmona and Scanno on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Sulmona and Scanno on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Sulmona and Scanno on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Sulmona and Scanno
- The Pelino confetti works and museum are closed on Sundays; go on a weekday.
- Take home a bunch of confetti flowers, the sugared almonds Sulmona has made for centuries.
- The Sentiero del Cuore is a steep footpath; wear good shoes and allow time to climb to the viewpoint.
- Drive the Gole del Sagittario slowly and stop at the small lay-bys; in winter the road can have snow.
- In Scanno leave the car by the main road and explore the stepped lanes on foot.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Gole del Sagittario gorge: SimonaDV, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Scanno (Santa Maria della Valle): Mario75Romano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Sulmona (Corso Ovidio and the Ovid statue): Lorenzo Testa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake San Domenico and the Hermitage: Lucadideo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Scanno and the Madonna del Lago church: Fiat 500e, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pelino confetti museum: Zitumassin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza Garibaldi and the medieval aqueduct, Sulmona: Pietro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sulmona Cathedral: Ra Boe, CC BY-SA 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
