Navelli

Nestle in the ridge of the hill it is a pleasant stop before descending into the Tirino valley. The origins of the village’s name are a bit curious: founded on a very ancient settlement before Romans, it goes back to the Vicus Inerculae the epithet of basin or “ship”, where it is situated, and this is the most validate name’s theory. Instead of this, it is studied that another meaning for this name could come from the union of nine Villa Novelli (from Latin) which during the medieval period reunited around the castle.
On the top of the hill, there is Santucci Palace a solid structure of the 16th century built on the old medieval castle. From Porta Castello it is possible to enter the old village with an astonishing view on the surrounding mountain. Here there are many signs of a farmer past like the pilucce, a little manager for animals excavated in the stone. The church of Santa Maria in Cerulis has big charming, it is from the 11th century and maybe even earlier, there is also the church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Renaissance style.
The neighboring village of Civitaretenga is the same age and the same historical charming, with Sant’Antonio’s church and its medieval monastery where is possible to find an ancient Jewish ghetto. This is the village where the so famous gold of Abruzzo, saffron, is cultivated.