Scanno ( Abruzzese: ') is a town and district in the

province of L'Aquila The province of L'Aquila () is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated Provinces of Italy, province of the Abruzzo region of Italy. It comprises about half the landmass of Abruzzo and occupies the western part of the region. It ...

, in the

Abruzzo Abruzzo (, ; ; , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; ), historically also known as Abruzzi, is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy with an area of 10,763 square km (4,156 sq mi) and a population of 1.3 million. It is divided into four ...

region of central

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. It is one of

I Borghi più belli d'Italia () is a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest, that was founded in March 2001 on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, with the a ...

("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). The town is bordered by Anversa degli Abruzzi, Barrea, Bisegna, Bugnara, Civitella Alfedena, Introdacqua, Opi, Pescasseroli, Pettorano sul Gizio, Rivisondoli, Rocca Pia,

Villalago Villalago ( Abruzzese: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia () is a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and ar ...

and Villetta Barrea.

History

Situated in the Sagittario Valley and encircled by the Majella mountains, Scanno has been immortalised by photographers

Henri Cartier-Bresson Henri Cartier-Bresson (; 22 August 1908 – 3 August 2004) was a French artist and Humanist photography, humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 135 film, 35mm film. He pioneered the genre of street ...

(1951) and Mario Giacomelli (1957–59) and, according to

Edward Lear Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888) was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, who is known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limerick (poetry), limericks, a form he popularised. ...

, was host to Italy's most beautiful women. Local legend has it that Scanno's natural lake ( Lago di Scanno - stocked with pike and perch and

’s largest natural basin) was created by a feud between a white witch and a sorcerer; the lake marking the spot where the witch finally fell.

People

For a brief period during World War II, future Italian president

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (; 9 December 1920 – 16 September 2016) was an Italian politician, statesman and banker who was the President of Italy from 1999 to 2006 and the Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994. A World War II veteran, C ...

was a refugee in the town. Quinto Mancini (1893–1963), the father of American composer

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flutist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, ...

, was born in Scanno on 13 March 1893 and later emigrated to America.

Main sites

* Hermitage of Sant'Egidio *

Sant'Antonio da Padova Sant'Antonio, Italian for Saint Anthony, most often refers to places named after Saint Anthony of Padua or Anthony the Great, Sant'Antonio Abate: People Places Switzerland *Sant'Antonio, Bellinzona, municipality in canton of Ticino *Sant'Antoni ...

* Santa Maria della Valle or Chiesa Matrice * Madonna di Constatinopoli

Climate

References

Hilltowns in Abruzzo Ski areas and resorts in Italy Borghi più belli d'Italia {{Abruzzo-geo-stub