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What to do in Padula

What to do in Padula

Padula: between nature, waterfalls and ancient paths

In Padula, it's possible to immerse yourself in nature via a charming circular route of approximately 6 km. Here's a detailed guide to make the most of the main itinerary.

The Riverside Path

DepartureThe itinerary begins by taking a dirt track on the left, located just before the bridge that marks the entrance to the village. 

The path descends steeply to the riverbed. Thanks to the shallow depth, on warmer days, you can walk barefoot amongst the rocks and enjoy a natural foot bath at the small “rapids”.

After about a hundred metres, you reach the new balconies. From here you can go back up towards the village, directly opposite the Gorzano restaurant, coming across an ancient wash house where you can drink fresh water.

Beneath the balconies, there are two wooden tables for a picnic or a snack, directly in front of two artificial waterfalls.

Continuing, one immerses oneself among hazelnut trees and giant walnuts. In spring, the landscape is enriched by streams of water and a meadow covered by a thick carpet of yellow flowers.

 

Santino's Ditch and the Waterfall

Crossing the riverbed by an iron and wooden bridge, you reach the first waterfall of Padula: the “Santino Ditch”.”.

It's a circular pond fed by two small waterfalls where you can swim (being careful of the depth in the middle).. For locals, it's a “natural swimming pool” rich with childhood memories and fairy legends.

The area is equipped with a bench and a large iron heart with the inscription “I love Padula”, perfect for taking photos with the waterfall in the background.

Just above the waterfall, there is a large picnic area with numerous tables and a big, two-burner stone barbecue..

 

 

 

Sanctuary Madonna dei Monti della Laga in Padula

Not far from the village of Padula (hamlet of Cortino), stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Monti della Laga, also known as the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Originally built in the 15th century and subjected to a major restoration in the 18th century, the building stands out for its basilica plan and the adjoining stone convent cloister. Its sober façade, embellished with a Gothic portal, is flanked by a bell tower built in the 1950s. The latter, inspired by the art of the Atrian masters, closely resembles the profiles of the towers of Teramo, Città Sant'Angelo and Cellino Attanasio. Once you cross the threshold, you are welcomed into a room that once had three naves, but today only the central nave, which has a transept and is dominated by an organ on the counter façade. The side walls have a marble cladding that conceals the old masonry, while still allowing precious fragments of the original frescoes to be seen. Looking up, one can admire the ceiling decorated with Renaissance paintings celebrating the coats of arms of the Acquaviva family. The real visual focus, however, is the monumental Baroque canopied altar: modelled on the forms of a classical temple and surmounted by the coat of arms of the Dukes of Atri, it holds the Risen Christ in triumph in the centre, flanked in the side niches by the statues of the Assumption and Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

The Padula Mill

Just below the village, near a cosy picnic area, are the remains of the old Padula mill, active from 1600 to 1955. Of the original structure, the fine exterior walls in dressed stone and the rooms that housed the wheel are preserved. Inside, despite the collapse of the vaulted roof, the old millstone is still visible. Further down you can see the old “refogge” reservoir, with a waterfall of no less than ten metres, once fed by a channel carved into the rock that can still be seen along the river. Used to grind wheat and products such as chickling peas, the Padula mill is the first of the 18 historic mills that once lined the Tordino river as far as Teramo.

Activities and Services

Other Activities and Services

Football pitch

Children's Play Area

Barbecue Area

Gorzano Restaurant"

B&B Pappappero

Ostello Montano
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