Castelluccio is a village in Umbria, in the

Apennine Mountains The Apennines or Apennine Mountains (; grc-gre, links=no, Ἀπέννινα ὄρη or Ἀπέννινον ὄρος; la, Appenninus or – a singular with plural meaning;''Apenninus'' (Greek or ) has the form of an adjective, which wou ...

of central Italy. Administratively, it is a '' frazione'' of the ca. 28 km distant town

Norcia Norcia (), traditionally known in English by its Latin name of Nursia (), is a town and comune in the province of Perugia (Italy) in southeastern Umbria. Unlike many ancient towns, it is located in a wide plain abutting the Monti Sibillini, a su ...

. According to the 2001 census, it had close to 150 inhabitants.

Geography

The village lies at 1452 m, making it the highest settlement in the Apennines. It lies above the "Great Plain" (

Piano Grande The Piano Grande (Great Plain) is a large plateau, 4,000 ft above sea level in the central Italian Apennine mountains. The Piano is flanked by the Sibilline group of mountains (Italian Monti Sibillini), the highest of which is Monte Vettore ...

- 1270 m), next to the

Monti Sibillini National Park The Monti Sibillini National Park ( it, Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini) is an Italian national park located across the regions of Marche and Umbria, encompassing the provinces of Macerata, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno and Perugia Perugia (, ...

. Rain and meltwater accumulate on the surface of the plain, which is made of largely impermeable sediments. The greenish ditches drain the water towards openings called ponors, which are part of the

karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

ic underground drainage system. If the karst drainage is blocked for any reason, water backs up and turns the plain into a temporary lake.

History

The village dates from the 13th century or slightly earlier, but the area had previously been settled by the Romans. In 2016 and 2017 Central Italy seismic events hit Castelluccio hard, destroying roughly 60% of the town, forcing the evacuation of all inhabitants and the total closure of all road and/or offroad access. Certain roads were scheduled for partial reopening in July 2017. As of 2018, the village can be reached again, and temporary buildings have been erected housing bars and shops.

Economy

The fields on the slopes below the village are cultivated; the town is known for its excellent lentils. In springtime the nature of the fields is in lavish color, with red poppies and yellow rapeseed. The plains grassland is ideal for sheep husbandry. There is a lot of ski- and trekking tourism.

Notes and references

External links

Lentils and Foraging in Castelluccio

Photo gallery made by a UNESCO photographer

Via SSH {{authority control Frazioni of the Province of Perugia Hilltowns in Umbria Apennine Mountains Norcia