A Tour of Italy: Abruzzo: Aielli

30th April 2022

I have a visitor over from Saudi Arabia - Scott - so I decide to visit one of the places on my list of places to see in Abruzzo: Aielli. It’s a small town high above the Fucino plain on which Avezzano sits. The weather is gorgeous as we take the road out from Sora. It’s a cool Spring day with a fantastically blue sky. We take the motorway which is annoying because every so often there are signs telling me there is a speed trap ahead - when there aren’t. So, it’s a leisurely pace but after an hour or so we get to the town.

There aren’t many people around and we park in the main square opposite the Municipio. On the wall, there is an image of Patrick Zaki, a student who was arrested in Cairo for being an activist there (he has since been released temporarily). However, it bears an uncanny resemblance to Nico so a photo of him next to the image is taken!

We wander around the town looking at the murals which make this place famous. There are about 50 in total and it’s easy to see them all since the town is small and walkable. They are wonderful. There’s an ordinary house with the washing hanging off the balcony against a backdrop of an inspired Van Gogh wall. My favourite is one of the entrances to the town which is painted out in rainbow colours. It’s difficult to list them all - I will let the photos tell their own story. Also in the main square there is a series of painted benches very cleverly done.

It’s getting on toward lunchtime so we head for a neighbouring town, Celano. We park up by the imposing Piccolomini Castle. Our eatery is La Cittadella, just a short walk from the castle. It’s warm enough to sit outside and eat. The waiter spent some time in Australia and so speaks English very well though to her shame, she hadn't heard of Arpino, nor even Frosinone: Even though it’s a Tuscan dish, we all have panzanella - which is a good way to use up stale bread. Scott has some sort of ravioli dish, Nico has a short pasta dish with mushrooms and I have the spaghetti alla chitarra with fresh pachino tomatoes. Our table overlooks the Fucino plain and we sit and talk and eat until we are the only customers left. Time to go home.

All in all, it was a fabulous day. Definitely a 5 star recommendation.

This is a link to all the photos taken in Aielli and Celano.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/B8jDW5ujjv2EaMaL9