The jewel of Scanno

A very well-known and popular site is Scanno, a town rich in historical and artistic traditions whose charm is bewitching. Wikipedia considers Scanno as the town of photographers because eminent personalities like Henri Cartier Bresson have immortalized with their cameras glimpses and faces of those places.

As a matter of fact, once arrived, it is impossible to resist the temptation to immortalize every detail of the town and of the local women who, unaware of the poetry they convey, proudly and regularly wear traditional dresses. Every year, in late April, there is a week of cultural initiatives dedicated to the ancient wedding dress of Scanno, when local girls wear beautiful dressmaking masterpieces which they show off together with the jewels on special occasions.

Since 1800, the skilful hands of master goldsmiths have forged a filigree gold and silver jewel called “Presentosa”. It is sun-shaped and it has been commonly used ever since as a jewel devoted to the fiancée who, wearing it, was regarded as engaged in everyone’s eyes.

Scanno, Guardiagrele and Pescocostanzo are just a few places where even today the skilful goldsmiths’ hands make this Abruzzese jewel. Other showpieces of the territory are crocheted and lace pillowed artifacts, made in the same shape.

If you are in Abruzzo you cannot miss the town of Scanno with its beautiful lake, a truly magical place where you will feel like you are living in another time and where everything slowly flows. A place you would never want to leave but where you would certainly go back to.