From October 23 to 25, Piazza Duomo and the Gran Sasso will host the third edition of “L’Aquila Città di Montagna.” That same weekend, the national parks will offer hikes and activities to explore autumn in Abruzzo.
Bringing the Gran Sasso into the heart of the city and, from the city, returning to experience the mountains. This dual movement is the driving force behind the third edition of “L’Aquila Città di Montagna, ” scheduled for October 23–25 under the theme “Montagna Capitale, ” in the year that L’Aquila is the Italian Capital of Culture 2026.
The event, organized by the City of L’Aquila and the Office for Special Projects for Reconstruction, with the support of the Abruzzo Region, the Province of L’Aquila, the USRA, the USRC, and the Carispaq Foundation, will transform Piazza Duomo into a sports and interactive village for three days, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring downhill and cross-country ski runs on synthetic surfaces, a climbing wall, a Bike School, and a Pump Track. All event activities are free of charge, while reservations are required for off-site experiences.
The Mountain: From the Square to the Surrounding Area
The program features 77 events and involves 95 local organizations. In addition to the activities in Piazza Duomo, 30 experiences are planned: bike rides, e-bike rides, and gravel bike rides, as well as mountain and urban hikes and horseback riding. The routes extend to the villages of the Gran Sasso, between Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio, the Roio Bike Park, the Alta Valle dell’Aterno Trail, and the Cammino dei Monti e dei Santi.
The educational heart of the event will be the new educational area. Here, the Carabinieri Forestali’s Meteomont Service, the Guardia di Finanza’s Alpine Rescue Team, the Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit, and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park will offer sessions focused on safety, prevention, and understanding the mountain environment. The Park will also host workshops on bees, biodiversity, and the wool supply chain. Friday morning will be reserved for schools.
Mountaineering, Music, and Mountain Flavors
On Friday, October 23, starting at 6 p.m., the educational area will host the “Montagna Capitale” talks featuring mountaineers Daniele Bernasconi and Michele Cucchi, ambassadors for this year’s event. At 7:00 p.m., the Urban Trekking Night will begin—a fitness walk through the narrow streets and up-and-down terrain of the historic center.
On Saturday, the 24th, starting at 6 p.m., it will be time for “Note di Valore, ” featuring the presentation of the L’Aquila Città di Montagna Award and a concert by the woodwind quintet of the Istituzione Sinfonica Abruzzese and the Corale 99 choir. Starting at 7:30 p.m., Chef Davide Nanni will bring mountain cuisine to Piazza Duomo with a cooking demonstration, followed by the senior finals of the Boulder Contest.
Sunday, the 25th, will be a day dedicated to families, featuring outdoor yoga, a junior bouldering contest, a bike show, workshops for kids, and a 50-kilometer bike tour led by World Masters Champion Chiara Ciuffini.
That same weekend, events in the parks
L’Aquila, the Mountain City, can also serve as a starting point for exploring other experiences in the area served by the A24 and A25 highways. Along a route marked by majestic mountains, the focus shifts to the national parks. The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park’s calendar of events, which runs alongside the event in L’Aquila, features an autumn birdwatching day on Saturday, October 24, at the Lake Campotosto Nature Reserve, as well as hiking and e-bike tours through Valle Castellana, Carpineto della Nora, Castel del Monte, and Montebello di Bertona. On Sunday, October 25, there will also be outings to Campli, Castel del Monte, the Tirino Valley, and Fonte Cerreto.
In the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, the photography workshop “The Magic of Autumn in Abruzzo” is scheduled for October 23–25, taking place in Pescasseroli, Lake Barrea, Val Fondillo, Terraegna, and Val Canneto. On Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, “Among the Colors of Autumn” returns—a hiking experience dedicated to fall foliage, departing from Civitella Alfedena. That same weekend, the Park Authority’s calendar also features activities focused on learning about bears and wolves, to be conducted with respect for the animals and the natural balance of the ecosystem.
On October 24 and 25, the Maiella National Park is offering family-friendly activities centered around fall foliage in the Bosco di Sant’Antonio, near Pescocostanzo.
The Sirente Velino Regional Nature Park completes the mosaic of large protected areas accessible from the region, located right at the intersection of the A24 and A25 highways. The third-highest peak in the Apennine range, Mount Velino, invites visitors to explore the area at a leisurely pace, with respect and awareness, highlighting its natural, scenic, and cultural features.
A Mountain to Discover and Respect
The theme “Montagna Capitale” thus goes beyond the Piazza Duomo program. It tells the story of a region that brings together cities, villages, trails, and protected areas, and invites people to experience the mountains through sports, culture, environmental awareness, and tourism that respects the local environment.
The A24 takes visitors to L’Aquila and the foothills of the Gran Sasso; the A25, on the other hand, leads to the Marsica region, the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, and the Maiella. Before setting out, it is advisable to consult the official schedules, check seat availability, and review the weather and traffic conditions.
