168 Route 12. SOLMONA. From Ancona
the r. the chapel of St. Alexander of the 16th cent. Around the church
lie the ruins of the important city of Corfinium, once capital of the Pae-
ligni, and in the Social war of B. C. 90 elevated to the rank of capital of
the Italian confederation under the name of Italica, but a few years later
taken by the Romans. — This digression may easily be combined with the
further journey to Solmona.
Farther on, to the r. lies the important village of Pratolea.
Passing the ancient cathedral of <S. Panfilo, the traveller shortly
reaches
Solmona (1500 ft., two poor inns), the ancient Sulmo of the
Padigni, birthplace of Ovid, who was much attached to this his
"cool home, abounding in water" as he terms it. The town is
picturesquely situated, being commanded on two sides by moun¬
tains, and contains several buildings remarkable for their mediajval
architecture. The facade of the handsome * Town Hall of the
16th cent, is adorned with statues of popes. Among other edi¬
fices, the palace of Baron Tabassi, in a side-street, and the
facades of the churches of S. Francesco d'Assisi and S. Maria
della Tomba, though injured by the earthquake of 1803, deserve
examination.
From Solmona to Castel di Sangro (see below) 25*/2 M. ; two-
horse carr. 12 1. The road traverses the plain as far as (42/3 M.)
Pettorano and then ascends by long windings to Rocca Valloscura,
a village situated in a rocky ravine. Beautiful retrospects of the
valley of Solmona. After a farther ascent the culminating point.
(4000 ft.) of the road is attained, the Piano di Cinquemiglia, a
table-land enclosed by mountains and of the extent indicated by
the name. In winter it is frequently impassable for several con¬
secutive months, and in summer the temperature is generally low.
Beyond this plain the road inclines to the 1. and Rivisondoli be¬
comes visible. Then to the r. past Roccarasa, about 2'/4 M.
beyond which the road descends by long windings to the valley
of the Sangro, the ancient Sangrus. The village to the 1. is Rocca
Cinquemiglia. The river is then crossed to
Castel di Sangro (Hotel de Commerce in the Piazza), on the
r. bank of the broad and impetuous Sangro, picturesquely situated
at the foot of lofty mountains. With the exception of the old
church of S. Nicola by the bridge and the ruins of a castle, the
place contains no objects of interest. — Diligence hence every
evening to (35 M.) Lanciano (p. 159).
From Castel di Sangro to Isernia (see below) about 23'/2 M.;
dilig. in 5 hrs., fare 6 1. The heights which separate the valley
of the Sangro from that of the Vandra, a tributary of the Vol¬
turno, are ascended. On the summit a picturesque view; to the
I. below the town of Forli is visible. The road then descends
by the villages of Rionera and Vandria, crosses the valley and
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