Finalborgo: Tour of the Castles

The excursion, of a historical-naturalistic nature, starts from Finalborgo, ascending along the Via della Regina (Beretta road). In a short time we reach the mighty Castel San Giovanni (17th cent.), which incorporates the ancient medieval keep in which the walls of the Borgo were connected. Continuing through the Mediterranean scrubland, at a stretch the scenic ruins of the ancient residence of the marquises, the Renaissance Castel Gavone, will appear, with the splendid Tower of Diamonds, characterized by a very refined ashlar in Finale stone. Continuing the route we will notice that the Mediterranean scrub is replaced by terraces (strips) of olive trees: we are now near the small rural nucleus of Perti. Here, near the church of St. Eusebius, the funerary epigraph of little Lucius (362) was found, one of the oldest dated records of the spread of Christianity in northern Italy. A little further on, the church of Our Lady of Loreto or of the five bell towers (1488) testifies to cultural exchanges with the great Milanese seigniories, Visconti and Sforza; it is a very precious episode of Renaissance architecture that recalls, in small ways, the Portinari chapel in Milan. To return to Finalborgo we will descend into the Aquila Valley, among small farming nuclei in a charming rural landscape. To create a full-day program this can be combined with a visit to Finalborgo.