The Castello di Salle, in the province of Pescara, is a medieval fortress built with Maiella stone, originally linked to the Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria for defensive purposes. Over the centuries, it became a noble residence, housing families like the Colonna, Gonzaga, and D’Aquino, until 1646, when Giacinto de Genua (Di Genova) transformed it into a palace. Among the ruins of the ancient fortified village stands the Church of Blessed Roberto da Salle, a disciple of Saint Celestine V, whose spiritual legacy endures in the region. Part of the castle is now home to the Medieval Bourbon Museum, displaying ancient weapons, historical documents, and aristocratic artifacts.
The castle is steeped in legend, with tales of the ghost of “La Stecchina”, a 14th-century woman, and a hidden imperial treasure buried by Valentinian III. It is also said that Napoleon Bonaparte once slept in one of its rooms. With its battlemented towers, panoramic terraces, and an entrance framed by Italian gardens, the castle remains an important cultural and religious site in Abruzzo, deeply connected to Blessed Roberto da Salle.
- Address
Salle Vecchia, Via Str. Vecchia, 1, Caramanico Terme, Italy - Web
https://www.fondazionecastellodisalle.it/ - Visiting Hours
Info and Whatsapp +39 334 320 5050 - What to see
Church of Blessed Roberto, hall of Napoleon, Museum
