Pescocostanzo: bobbin lace and workshops

A few minutes from Rivisondoli, Pescocostanzo is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy: fifteenth- and sixteenth-century stone houses, carved doorways and a craft tradition that is still alive.

What to see

• Basilica of Santa Maria del Colle: rebuilt after the 1456 earthquake, with a monumental stairway and an interior full of carved wood and wrought iron.
• Palazzo Fanzago and the Bobbin Lace Museum: antique lace, some from the eighteenth century, and an explanation of how lace is made by hand. The village still has a school where it is taught.
• The workshops: besides lace, Pescocostanzo is known for gold filigree and wrought iron.

When to go

The museum opens mainly during the holidays and in summer, with seasonal hours: check the Comune's website first. The village is worth a visit in every season, and in winter, when the small lake freezes, it becomes a natural skating rink.

For a sweet break, Biscottificio Di Giacomo makes cinnamon pizzelle and ferratelle to a family recipe.