I love traveling - and probably travel more than anyone I know - so it makes sense that I write about it. Get Lost is a series of short, snappy travel guides (250 words or under) where I write about the places I visit.
NESTLED ON THE SLOPES OF COLLE ROTONDO, THE SLEEPY VILLAGE OF BUGNARA TUMBLES DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE ALONG TIGHT, TWISTING ALLEYWAYS AND STEEP LANES THAT OFFER BREATHTAKING VISTAS OVER THE PELIGNA VALLEY BELOW.
Life in Bugnara centres on its cosy piazza, where you’ll find locals spilling out onto the flagstone to catch up with neighbours over coffee and focaccia. Above the square, the imposing 12th-century Castello Ducale looms over the village, closed for restoration since heavy earthquake damage in 2009. Walk downhill and you’ll find the Church of the Madonna della Neve, dating from the 10th-century and rumoured to be built on the site of an ancient pagan temple.
A short drive down into the valley brings you to the ancient city of Sulmona. A buzzing provincial hub, Sulmona attracts visitors from across the region to its lively twice-weekly markets held in the spacious Piazza Garibaldi, beneath the city’s striking 13th century aqueduct. Despite its wealth of history, Sulmona is best known for confetti — sugared almonds coloured and crafted into various guises by local artisans and traditionally given to guests at weddings. Further afield, the emerald waters of Lake Scanno provide the perfect complement to the bustle of Sulmona and the heat of the Italian sun.
Warmed by the charm of the Italian countryside, Bugnara is the ideal place to relax into the calming routines of rural life. So grab a seat on the main square, order your first coffee, and watch the world go by.