Grottolella

The municipality of Grottolella is a small medieval village set on a promontory above the Sabato valley, at an altitude of 565 metres, with around 1,700 inhabitants. It lies within the Partenio Regional Park. The Castello Macedonio, built on the site of an earlier Lombard fortress, overlooks the village from above. Adjoining one of its four towers is the Chapel of San Giovanni Battista, the work of the Neapolitan architect and sculptor Lorenzo Vaccaro (father of Domenico Antonio Vaccaro).

The village is known for its fine residential and religious buildings: Palazzo Pellegrini, built around a courtyard, whose sandstone doorway bears the date 1730; Palazzo Maglio, from 1884; and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, dating from the 18th century and home to important works of art. The mother church holds the relics of St Vincent Martyr and St Anastasia, Virgin and Martyr. Well worth a visit is the picturesque 'chianca', the Rampa Sant'Antonio, once the only way into the old village.

Walking through the streets of the village, don't miss the open-air museum with fine sculptures by the artist Giovanni Spiniello.