Description of the attraction
Caramanico Terme is a small town located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level near the confluence of the Orfento and Orta rivers on a hill between Monte Morrone and the Mayella massif. Pescara International Airport is just 40 minutes away, the Adriatic coast is 45 minutes away and the ski resort is 20 minutes away. Caramanico Terme boasts a mild temperate climate with cool summers and dry winters. Since the 16th century, it has been famous for its baths. In addition, the city attracts nature lovers, as it is located in the heart of the Mayella National Park with its untouched forests and numerous hiking trails that lead to the secluded hermitage of San Pietro Celestine or the old stone shepherd's huts "Toloi".
The name Karamanico Terme comes from the word "kara", which means "rock", or from the word "arimannia" - this is how the highest Lombard society was called in the Middle Ages. In the 1960s, the word Terme was added to the name of the city, as the only thermal springs in Abruzzo with healing water were located nearby. As mentioned above, the first mention of these sources dates back to the 16th century, when the Dominican monk Serafino Razzi wrote in his travel notes about crowds of people affected by scabies going to the “holy spring of Zolfanaya”. Today, two high sulfur springs - La Salute and Gisella - supply water to the spa area. And water from the low-mineralized source of Pisarello is used as a diuretic. The spa season here lasts from April to November.
In addition to the thermal springs, Caramanico has a number of interesting sights, such as the 15th century Santa Maria Maggiore and the 12th century San Tommaso. A number of buildings from the Middle Ages have been preserved in the historic center of the city. Also noteworthy is the hermitage of San Giovanni, where Saint Onofrio lived for seven years in the 13th century.
In the vicinity of Caramanico Terme, there is the Valle del Orfento nature reserve, founded in 1971. It is one of the most picturesque corners of the Apennine Mountains, with deep canyons carved by the Orfento River. A network of routes of various lengths and difficulty levels has been laid throughout the reserve.
