Non UK Italy: Sibillini and Grand Sasso mountains

[ancient_mariner]

We will be staying in a place called Lisciano, located in the foothills of the Sibillini Mountains near Ascoli Piceno. Does anyone have recommended locations in the general area - I've never been to the area before, but have been told (by non-photographers) that it's spectacular?

Thanks in advance.

 

[addick56]

Spent a week in the area on a walking holiday some years back - one reason for making photography my main focus! Glorious big scenes and wonderful flora. Villages such as Castelluccio with its lentil fields, really want to return.
Enjoy!

 

[ianmarsh]

You are going to a beautiful area of Italy. We have a house north west of you in the Sibillini mountains (near Fiastra). The run of towns from Sarnano to Montemonaco are all very nice for a stroll and an ice-cream and from them you can drive into the Sibillini national park area easily enough. I guess you know that the big earthquakes of a few summers back decimated the area to the west of you so the previously lovely towns of Norcia, Castelluccio and Arquata del Tronto are abandoned or facing major reconstruction but the plain of Castelluccio is still worth a visit for the views of Monte Vettore and the mountain ranges north of there. I don't know when you are going but the Fioritura is supposed to be spectacular - great swathes of wildflowers in the Castelluccio area between the end of May and early July. I've never managed to see it but photos look wonderful. The weather in Italy hasn't been good this year but I don't know what that will mean for the flowering.

Lake Fiastra:
10. October by Ian, on Flickr

Monte Vettore:
12. December by Ian, on Flickr

Fioritura with castelluccio in the distance and Monte Vettore just out of shot on the right (my brother-in-law's photo)
6. June by Ian, on Flickr

Monte Vettore and Castelluccio plain under the fog:
Sunrise over Monte Vettore by Ian, on Flickr

Going to the coast, San Benedetto del Tronto is lovely, and Grottamare a little to the north is very nice too. I spent a couple of summers photographing the windsurfers at Porto San Giorgio (further north) so take a telephoto.

Grottamare:
1307_Grottammare_192-Edit by Ian, on Flickr

Kitesurfers:
DSC06086.1 by Ian, on Flickr

And if you can go inland to the western side of the Sibillini mountains the drive up the SS3 from Spoletto to Assissi is fabulous, especially in the evening as the sun catches all the hill-top villages.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Thanks Elaine @addick56 .

Ian - thank you so much for posting - if I can find your tripod holes and light I shall be happy indeed. Those images are fabulous, and I can see you've dedicated some serious time there. @ianmarsh

Regarding the villages that were damaged in the quakes, are the visitable, not from morbid curiosity, but because I do occasional urbex work. I don't know the situation or local feelings, so please tell me if you think it's inappropriate.

 

[ianmarsh]

Thanks Elaine @addick56 .

Ian - thank you so much for posting - if I can find your tripod holes and light I shall be happy indeed. Those images are fabulous, and I can see you've dedicated some serious time there. @ianmarsh

Regarding the villages that were damaged in the quakes, are the visitable, not from morbid curiosity, but because I do occasional urbex work. I don't know the situation or local feelings, so please tell me if you think it's inappropriate.

I am fortunate that we can spend 4-5 weeks there over the summer plus other trips during the year. I am just about getting to know that place now and the light is pretty reliable and amazingly good. I will be there between 25 July and 25 August - if you are nearby at that time let me know.

Last time I went, the village of Castelluccio was effectively closed with barriers up, mainly because the earthquakes have persisted (we felt another big one when we visited at easter) and so just too dangerous. The bigger town of Norcia is functioning with the town centre boarded up but a whole load of new accommodation going up just outside town. I think photos there would be possible and as long as you look solemn enough I doubt people would object. Lots of visitors were taking pics last time I went through there. These towns thrive on tourist income so buy some of the local produce and flaunt the logo on the carrier bag and they will be thankful, I'm sure. Norcia does fantastic cheese and meats. The shop we used to go to was destroyed and they have relocated to a mobile van in a car park near the centre, along with quite a few other produce shops. Anything they sell is delicious but the salamis (especially the ciauscolo, a soft spreadable salami) are fantastic. We get wild boar roaming the mountains (and digging up my garden) and they are delicious. As Elaine said, the lentils from Castelluccio are the best. I gain kilos every summer...

This is a shot of Castelluccio taken after the first big earthquake that killed lots of people in the villages slightly south of here, and you can see the damage to a few houses. The day after I took this shot a second large earthquake hit and most of the rest fell down. Thankfully it had been evacuated by then:
11. November by Ian, on Flickr

 

[ancient_mariner]

Once again Ian, thank you for your advice. Very much appreciated.