Accumoli, as its name suggests (ad cumulum, meaning “at the top”), is located at the summit of a hill overlooking the Tronto River valley and the Via Salaria. From 900 meters above sea level, visitors can enjoy the crisp mountain air and views of some of the highest peaks in the Apennines. Accumoli enjoys a unique position in central Italy, bordering two national parks, Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga and Monti Sibillini. It is the most extreme of the municipalities in the Rieti area of Lazio, on the border with Umbria and Marche.
The precious resource of its territory is its people, who have developed a strong sense of belonging to their roots and traditions. A short distance from Accumoli, you can admire Lago Secco, a picturesque lake where animal and plant species dating back to the Quaternary glaciation survive. The 15-hectare area is a WWF oasis, now included in a Special Area of Conservation and also protected by the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.
Accumoli also has a strong tradition of completely authentic raw ingredients: the area’s signature dish is “Pasta alla Gricia,” whose name seems to come from Grisciano, a mountain hamlet, with a simple recipe of guanciale and pecorino cheese, products used by shepherds during transhumance and used to season spaghetti. The recipe seems to belong to the first version of the more famous sugo all’amatriciana, which is hardly surprising given the proximity of the two areas.
Accumoli, hit by the 2016 earthquake, is currently undergoing reconstruction. We hope to be able to return soon to stroll through its narrow streets.
For places to eat and stay, see the page for the Cittareale – Accumoli stage.
