Associazione Pro Loco Carapelle

Carapelle Calvisio rests on the high side of a basin that gradually descends toward Valle Tritana, on a small rocky ridge at an altitude of 877 meters from sea level, and is completely surrounded by the green of a thick forest of oaks, pines, broom and junipers which when put together gives you a most interesting enviroment.

The municipal territory is very diversified, it starts from an altitude of 500 meters from sea level in the south, which is rich of verdant olive-trees, to the 2.600 meters from sea level of Monte Prena which overlooks the central part of Campo Imperatore where Carapelle owns a territorial island of rich pasture.

Carapelle Calvisio is, today, the smallest municipality in Abruzzo with is 96 inhabitants, but it has a very young population so much so that the median age is below fifty years old.

What we know of the origin of the village goes back to the year 700, but it is only between the XI and XII century that the urban nucleus took the today configuration due to the dangerous times; it was done by necessity because the various nucleus scattered everywhere looking for protection from raids of armed bandits.

For the origin of the name of the village we have uncertain and disparaging news, but we know for certain that in the village was later born the Barony of Carapelle that dominated, with alternate fortune, the all inclusive territory from the border of Capestrano to the mountain chain of Campo Imperatore.

The historical center was made with poor materials consisting of local calcareous stone and sand, which was made by crushing the rocks found during the excavation for the foundation of the buildings mixed with lime produced locally whit ingenious furnaces called “calecare”.

The house’s walls are always very thick and it is surprising how the outside vestment, made of shaved stone, is still whole to-day, notwithstanding the years, earthquakes and the aggression of atmospheric agents.
The chromatic effect on the walls, that cannot be reproduced today, recalls the earth’s colour of stone cooked by the sun.
It is surprising to realize the proportions of the different styles of constructions and still yet those openings of doors and windows seem coming from a single project.
The different styles become noticeable when compared to the new constructions.