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

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

, in the

Abruzzo Abruzzo (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Abruzzese Neapolitan, Abbrùzze , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; nap, label=Sabino dialect, Aquilano, Abbrùzzu; #History, historically Abruzzi) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy wi ...

region of central

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. The town is bordered by

Anversa degli Abruzzi Anversa degli Abruzzi ( Abruzzese: ') is a comune and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Euro ...

, Barrea, Bisegna,

Bugnara Bugnara is a ''comune'' and village in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. In 2007, it was designated as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy (i borghi più belli d'Italia), an association that notes sma ...

Civitella Alfedena Civitella Alfedena is a small town and ''comune'' in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo, central Italy). It is located in the heart of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise. Main sights * "Lupo Appenninico Museum", dedicated to the histo ...

Introdacqua Introdacqua is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Introdacqua is part of Valle Peligna although it is set between Contra and S. Antonio Valleys. History The name Introdacqua, "Ndredacque" in loc ...

, Opi,

Pescasseroli Pescasseroli (, Marsicano: '', '') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of L'Aquila, in Southern Abruzzo, central Italy. A summer and winter resort, it is also the location of the Abruzzo National Park, nestled in the heart of the Monti Ma ...

Pettorano sul Gizio Pettorano sul Gizio is a ''comune'' and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central-southern Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It ...

Rivisondoli Rivisondoli is a village and ''comune'' in the province of L'Aquila The Province of L'Aquila ( it, Provincia dell'Aquila) is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated province of the Abruzzo region of Central Italy. It compris ...

Rocca Pia Rocca Pia is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle o ...

, Villalago and

Villetta Barrea Villetta Barrea ( Abruzzese: '', '') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. Its territory, located within the Monti Marsicani, is crossed by the Sangro The Sangro is a river in eastern centra ...

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 humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 35mm film. He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as cap ...

(1951) and

Mario Giacomelli Mario Giacomelli (1 August 1925 – 25 November 2000) was an Italian photographer and photojournalist in the genre of humanism. Biography Giacomelli was born in the sea-port town of Senigallia in the Marche region of Italy into a family of modes ...

(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 Lago di Scanno is a lake in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. It is located in the Appennino Abruzzese north of Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise. On its southern shore is Scanno and on its northern shore is Villalago Villalago ( ...

- 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 and banker who was the prime minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and the president of Italy from 1999 to 2006. Biography Education Ciampi was born i ...

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 flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

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

Main sites

Hermitage of Sant'Egidio Eremo di Sant'Egidio (Italian for ''Hermitage of Sant'Egidio'') is an hermitage located in Scanno, Province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo, Italy). History Architecture References External links {{coord, 41.9124, N, 13.8747, E, source:wikida ...

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

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

References

Hilltowns in Abruzzo Ski areas and resorts in Italy {{Abruzzo-geo-stub