Palazzo Galli

ACCOMMODATIONS: PALAZZO GALLI
Your accommodations are located in the recently restored historic Palazzo Galli, built by the Galli Family between 1700 and 1720 and expanded circa 1820/1830, and is now home to The Fontecchio International Airport, an artistic center that supports artist residencies and cultural events. The main floor of the palazzo houses two other apartments for visiting artists, plus a multi-room gallery space for exhibitions. The “Airport” is part of an international cultural experiment I have been developing to assist in repopulation efforts of small villages located in the mountainous interior of Abruzzo.

Your accommodations include a fully equipped kitchen, living room (with sofa-bed for extra guests), bedroom with matrimonial-size bed - SW exposure and balcony, private bathroom w/shower. There is also an adjacent work studio (also with SW exposure) with a large work table that can also be used for dinners with friends. The apartment is adorned with many original artworks and enhanced by nuanced lighting. The two main rooms and studio have a ceiling height of 14 feet. Access to the palazzo is through a large arched doorway that enters into an expansive interior shared courtyard (72 sq meters).  

ABOUT FONTECCHIO AND THE PROVINCE OF L’AQUILA
Fontecchio has one bar, one restaurant, one butcher, one hairstylist, one small grocery market, one flower shop, one pharmacy, one post office, one church, and one funeral parlor. Almost everything you need in life, except an ATM and a disco club! A notable historic feature for which Fontecchio is known is its fountain, first built in the 14th century and located by the central Piazza Del Popolo. Additionally, there are two other artistic/cultural centers, La Kap and Le Officine, that have opened in the last 2 years and host occasional concerts, exhibitions, and dinners.

Through artist residencies and cultural work of these last years, we have succeeded in attracting participation of artists and culturally-engaged individuals from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Iran, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States. With a population of just 300 inhabitants, this has made for a very unique and cultural mix in a village that would normally never see such diversity.

The small capital city of L’Aquila is a 30 min drive, and 45 min by bus. I recommend renting a car while you are here as it will give you many more opportunities for sightseeing. But if you don’t, there are buses to and from L’Aquila 5-6 times a day, though the latest is 7pm. [Note: while Italy has a great train system running north-south, due to Fontecchio’s isolated mountain region, buses are the most efficient form of transportation).

THE REGION
Abruzzo is known as “the green lung of Europe '' due to its three National Parks, one Regional Park and several natural reserves. Fontecchio lies on a slope of the Aterno Valley located on the edge of the Sirente-Velino regional park and is 2 hrs by car from Fiumicino International Airport in Rome. The Adriatic coast (also known as the “Trabocchi Coast'' in Abruzzo), is approximately 70 minutes away by car. 

Significant nearby places of either historic or natural beauty include Gran Sasso (second highest peak in Italy) with adjacent Campo Imperatore, the Castle of Rocca Calascio (film site for the 1980's film Ladyhawke starring Rutger Hauer), and the historic capital city of L’Aquila, circled by the Apennine Mountains and once known as the second city of the Kingdom of Naples. All are within 45 minutes from Fontecchio.

Fontecchio is also surrounded by hiking trails that lead to a number of nearby villages, as well as to the local historic “pagliares” (shepherd villages) established during the 1400’s and which sit at the foot of the Sirente massif. There are also two local ski areas. 

See more aboutAbruzzo here: https://italiasweetitalia.com/what-to-see-in-abruzzo-list-of-best-places/