San Liberatore alla Maiella

San Liberatore alla Maiella is a splendid example of a Romanesque church constructed by the Benedictine Order of Cassino: in 1007, in fact, monk Teobaldo came from the Abbey of Cassino expressly for reconstructing the ancient church of San Liberatore (whose origins go back all the way to Carlo Magno in 781) which was destroyed by an earthquake. The building was later restored and reconstructed in 1080, while beginning in 1500 the decadence began which led to its definitive closure in 1806, exactly as happened to the monastery of Santo Spirito.
The building is still perfectly conserved and offers us one of the most beautiful examples of Benedictine architecture within Abruzzo. The inside (visits only by request during off-season; often but not always open in summer) is bright with three naves and lovely pavement sculpted in 1250.
This important "spiritual pole" was not able to attract the hermits of Maiella, whose traces we will go to look for in the surrounding area of the abbey.
The rupestrian tombs
A few minutes by foot from the abbey of San Liberatore flows the Alento River in a narrow canyon. Here, on one of the narrow rocky terraces which faces the course of the little river, you will find some rupestrian tombs and a small chapel carved into the live rock.
Historic documentation that talks about this place does not exist, but it is probably an ancient sacred location dedicated to the water cults that were then converted into tombs of the first monks who settled at San Liberatore. Even if it's not of great architectural interest, the location is surely fascinating, especially from a naturalistic point of view and is definitely worth the visit. The path was recently equipped with little bridges and wooden handrails that make it easy to visit without ruining the atmosphere.
Looking at the façade of the abbey of San Liberatore, take the path to the left that goes down to the bed of the Alento River.
Sant'Onofrio
A cave opens into a long rocky wall, a location that, in proximity of San Liberatore, immediately attracted the attention of monks who, having decorated it with little works of art on the walls, made it a location of retreat for the religious of the convent.
Today the little rupestrian hermitage continues to be rather frequented, and they say that lying down on the rock called "La Culla di Sant'Onofrio" (The Cradle of San'Onofrio) can heal stomach pains.
The hermitage is reached from Serramonacesca taking the street for San Liberatore, then deviating for the section of gravel which you will pass until arriving at a square in which you can park your car. From here, you can reach the hermitage by means of a 20-minute walk.