Calascio
Comune
Comune di Calascio
Coat of arms
Location of Calascio
Calascio Location of Calascio in Italy Show map of Italy Calascio Calascio (Abruzzo) Show map of Abruzzo
Coordinates: 42°19′39″N 13°41′53″E / 42.32750°N 13.69806°E / 42.32750; 13.69806
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	L'Aquila (AQ)
Frazioni	Rocca Calascio
Government
• Mayor	Ludovico Marinacci
Area [1]
• Total	39.47 km2 (15.24 sq mi)
Elevation	1,210 m (3,970 ft)
Population  (31 December 2013)[2]
• Total	136
• Density	3.4/km2 (8.9/sq mi)
Demonym	Calascini
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	67020
Dialing code	0862
Patron saint	St. Nicholas
Saint day	9 May
Website	www.calascio.net

Calascio is a comune and village in the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.

History

The existence of the village, of Norman origin, is already testified from 816 in a document of Ludwig I as a possession of the "Volturnensi" monks. Later, around the year 1000, it was founded the fortress on the mountain above, originally a simple watchtower. In four the fortress grew in importance and size: moved from Barony of Carapelle (14th century), the Piccolomini family (15th century) and then to the Medici family (16th century), was placed under control of the chiefs of sheep involved in transhumance on the director of the Royal sheep track to Foggia. The structure of the castle was modified and expanded to its slopes and formed a small village, which is also perched.

So for a long period of time there was the coexistence of two villages, Calascio and Rocca Calascio, a different strategic functions being the first place on the mountainsides on the road that leads to Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Aquila, and the second in a dominant position on the whole of Navelli plateau and close to the Campo Imperatore pastures. In 1703 it was devastated by a violent earthquake after which the fortress, heavily damaged, was almost completely abandoned and much of the population moved to the underlying Calascio that from now developed more than the fortress.

Points of interest

• Medieval church of San Nicola
• Castle of Rocca Calascio
• Church of Santa Maria della Pietà
• Medieval city of Castelvecchio Calvisio
• Medieval town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio
• Park of Campo Imperatore