Sulmona, Medieval commune in Valle Peligna, Italy
Sulmona is a commune in Valle Peligna that sits at 405 meters (1329 feet) elevation at the base of the Maiella range. The Gizio and Vella rivers flow through the area and meet near the center, where historic streets and squares spread across the valley floor.
Sources mention the settlement in 211 BC, when Hannibal's forces attacked during the Second Punic War. The town survived the siege and grew into an important administrative center during the Middle Ages in the Abruzzo region.
The name comes from the Latin Sulmo and appears on street signs and public buildings throughout the settlement. Locals gather in the evening at the central square, where bars and cafés line historic facades and invite visitors to sit outdoors.
The central railway station links the commune directly to Rome and the Adriatic coast and sits within walking distance of the historic center. The main square and surrounding lanes are easy to reach on foot and offer shaded areas for walking on warm days.
Local artisans produce sugar-coated almonds known as confetti using methods that go back to early antiquity and coat them in layers of colored sugar. Small workshops shape these almonds into decorative forms like flowers, animals or fruits that serve as gifts for special occasions.
Location: Province of L'Aquila
Capital city: Sulmona
Elevation above the sea: 405 m
Shares border with: Bugnara, Cansano, Introdacqua, Pacentro, Pettorano sul Gizio, Pratola Peligna, Prezza, Caramanico Terme, Salle, Sant'Eufemia a Maiella
Website: http://comune.sulmona.aq.it
GPS coordinates: 42.04803,13.92620
Latest update: December 14, 2025 22:57
Photo license: CC BY-SA 4.0
Abruzzo brings together medieval villages, Roman sites, and mountain landscapes. Rocca Calascio rises to 1,460 meters (4,790 feet), offering views across the region from its ancient fortress walls. Gran Sasso and Majella national parks welcome hikers to explore trails through mountain terrain, where...
Hermitage of Sant'Onofrio al Morrone
4.7 km
Abbey of the Holy Spirit at Monte Morrone
4.5 km
Sulmona Cathedral
815 m
Complesso della Santissima Annunziata
265 m
Shrine of Hercules Curinus
4.6 km
Church of Saint Mary of the Tomb
222 m
Castello di Roccacasale
9.3 km
San Francesco della Scarpa
141 m
Museum of Confectionery Art and Technology
1.1 km
Confetti Pelino
1.1 km
Civic Museum of Sulmona
301 m
Santa Chiara
99 m
Museo diocesano di Sulmona
86 m
Stadio di atletica di Sulmona
2.2 km
Natural History Museum of Sulmona
106 m
Teatro Maria Caniglia
192 mArchivio di Stato dell'Aquila - Sezione di Sulmona
656 m
FS 835.092 in Sulmona
2.3 km
Santissima Annunziata
267 m
Chiesa della Santissima Trinità
7.1 km
San Domenico
227 m
San Pietro Celestino
7.1 km
San Gaetano
438 m
Madonna della Libera
7 km
San Filippo Neri
79 mMuseo delle tecniche fotografiche
698 mMuseo della Civiltà Contadina
7 km
Palazzo Tabassi
405 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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