Since I decided to spend the summer in my hometown I thought I could write a post to show you something. It's a medieval village, located on a mountain beside the National Park of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise. Last year I've made a book about the historical centre, most of the photos you'll see in this post are part of it.
The Historic Town Centre of San Donato Val di Comino is a magical place, filled with alleys, staircases, porticoes, vistas and narrow streets leading to locations of great historical value. The medieval Tower, Piazza del Colle, the old entrance gates, the Sanctuary and the Clock are just some of the places that comprise what is known to the locals as “il Castello”, the Castle.
Visiting these places is a walk through the millenia. The great artisan tradition, most notably chiselling, is visible to this day in the countless vault archways and sculptures that still dot the whole town.
According to several sources, the origins of San Donato can be traced back to a Sannite outpost by the name of Cominium, later destroyed by the Romans in 293 BC. The village later became part of the Lombards’ dominions in central and southern Italy.
In the XVI century San Donato saw substantial economic and demographic expansion, which laid the foundations for today’s topographic and logistical layout.
Stone is a constant feature in the Old Town centre. A resilient stone, used to build houses, churches and staircases and capable of withstanding countless wars and disasters, especially earthquakes.
Among the many villages of medieval origin nestling high in the mountains, San Donato Val di Comino has inspired particular fascination among visitors and instils a passionate love among locals, who live within its stones, its alleys, its buildings and its unique captivating atmosphere.
Unfortunately, photographic publications highlighting the beauty of the villages of our valley are few and far between, severely limiting the dissemination of such a wealth of beauty and history to the general public.
Today San Donato is part of a network of historic villages and hamlets, “I borghi più belli d’Italia”, and in 2018 it was awarded its second Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club for its hospitality and the quality of local events. Every summer many visitors flock to this small village in a festive spirit, making it one of the most frequented towns in the area.
