Monastero San Colombo

At the foot of the Gran Sasso, between the lush green at an altitude of 1088 meters, stands the ancient convent and the annexed church of San Colombo that belonged to the religious of the Third Franciscan Order. Since the fifteenth century in this place was venerated an image of the Madonna said of Monte Asprino; the chronicle of the Friars of the Third Order tells us that one of them, Pasquale dell'Aquila, administered the property on behalf of the Lateran Basilica, on which it depended.

At the beginning of the 16th century the citizens of Barisciano built a church with an adjoining convent, entrusting them from 1515 to the religious of the Order who remained here until 1809, when the Government sold the property as a result of the subversive law of Gioacchino Murat with which one ordered the suppression of different orders.

In 1740, the Holy See, almost as a reward for the devout life that the religious led, granted that the body of San Colombo Martyr was transferred from the catacombs of San Callisto in Rome to their church and placed under the high altar, an event that it must have been of great historical and religious importance if one considers that since then the relic of the saint has been the destination of uninterrupted pilgrimages. Unfortunately, today it is no longer following a steal which also had as its victim the ancient choir with stalls in a worked voice.

After the suppression of the order the convent remained uninhabited for a long time and the property thus passed to the Kingdom of Naples that later gave it to the Vescovile table in L'Aquila, from these to the Marchetti family and finally in 1984 to the town of Barisciano together with the surrounding territory.

Completely renovated and transformed into a historic residence, the residence is located in a strategic position, just minutes from the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and the famous Rocca Calascio; The residence inaugurated in 2000 is immersed in a centuries-old bush and is home to a magnificent Botanical Garden developed in three sections: Garden of Medicinal Plants, Path in the Selva dei Frati and Giardino del Piccolo Parco.

The rooms overlook the park garden and are equipped with every comfort; the warm and familiar atmosphere puts guests at ease and from this relaxing and elegant environment can experience food and wine tours, walks in contact with nature or mountain biking.

The historic residence as well as a hotel, is also offered as a prestigious location for weddings, banquets and various ceremonies, able to be transformed to measure for various events being able to take advantage of both the cloister inside the complex and the adjoining Botanical Garden for buffet open.