Historical Background: On the borders of the National Park of Gran Sasso, the village bases its economy on agriculture. On the upper part is situated the Merletti plain, a rocky-barrier made up of calcareous spires which represents the entry to the high-plateau of Voltigno. The origins of the commune date back to the Roman period. Perched on a hill slope, the village still preserves its ancient structure. To visit the church of St. Maria delle Grazie dated 1529 and Palazzo Pignatelli with wall-paintings of Severino Galante (1750-1827). Just a few metres away there is the church of St. Maria dell Cona with a wonderful Renaissance portal of Pietro de Stefano and Bernardino Darz (1529). In the surroundings is situated the abbey St. Maria of Casanova, built in 1191 in Cistercian style. It was rich and powerful for seven centuries, when many arts and sciences were developed. It was suppressed in 1807 during the reign of Giuseppe Bonaparte. In the monastery lived Erimondo, a copyst abbot of iluminated manuscripts.