Castel Mancino

Castel Mancino consists of the sparse remains of a fortified enclosure on a rocky spur above Pescasseroli. The regional tourism authority dates the fortress to the 9th or 10th century; the ruins overlook the upper Sangro valley.

Why it matters

The castle marks the earliest settlement associated with Pescasseroli. According to the national park authority, inhabitants later left the settlement around the castle and moved to the borgo del Peschio.

What to notice

Fragments of perimeter walls and tower bases outline the former enclosure. The remains are slight, and grass and scree cover much of the site. From the spur, the upper valley and the ridges around the Sangro's sources are visible.

Context and history

The park authority records the old toponym Pesculum Serulae for the rocky site and preserves a local legend of Pesca and Seroli told by shepherd-poet Cesidio Gentile. The fortress was abandoned as the settlement moved down to the present borgo.