Scanno

Scanno sits at just over a thousand metres above a lake formed by an ancient landslide that dammed the valley. From a particular point on the Monte Rotondo path the lake reads as a heart, which has become the standard image of the place. From the 1950s photographers including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli and Gianni Berengo Gardin worked here, drawn by the village's daily life and by the traditional women's costume, a dark pleated dress with an elaborate headdress, still worn by a few older residents. Filigree jewellery, including a distinctive earring called the presentosa, is made in workshops in the village.

History

Scanno, in the Sagittario valley, was photographed by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1951 and by Mario Giacomelli in 1957 to 1959, and Edward Lear wrote that it had the most beautiful women in Italy. Local legend says its lake, the largest natural lake in Abruzzo, was made by a feud between a white witch and a sorcerer, marking the spot where the witch finally fell (Wikipedia, Scanno, Abruzzo).

The main sights

• The heart-shaped lake - a landslide-dammed lake seen from one viewpoint.
• The photographic legacy - a village worked by several major photographers.
• The traditional costume - a dark pleated dress still worn by a few residents.
• The filigree workshops - silverwork including the presentosa earring.

When to go

May to October; the Sagittario gorge road in is dramatic and winding. Winter brings snow and a small ski area. Costume is worn mainly on feast days.

What to expect

The heart shape is only visible from one point on a path, not from the village. Costume wearing is now rare. The approach road is narrow.

Nearby

Sulmona lies north; the Abruzzo national park is south.

Key facts