Opi in the upper Sangro...

In the heart of the Monti Marsicani, Opi is a small municipality of no more than 450 inhabitants in the Province of L'Aquila. Part of the local authority of the Comunità Montana dell'Alto Sangro e delle Cinque Miglia, today Opi fully deserves its place on the list of the Borghi più belli d'Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy).

The position of the village of Opi is quite special, perfectly perched at an altitude of 1250 m on a low hill at the foot of Monte Marsicano. Climbing Monte Marsicano itself by its normal route, you can see, and it's a striking sight, how well this village fits into the natural setting around it.

The efforts of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park to preserve the naturalness and "wilderness" of the valley have fully succeeded.
To the experienced hiker, as well as to the tourist less used to walking, we suggest spending a little time visiting this village. For those travelling by car, you can park as soon as you enter the village. Past the first houses a few parking spaces let you leave the car and carry on on foot.

You walk up the village's main street to the top. The atmosphere is the somewhat desolate, silent one of mountain villages, ideal for those looking for a quiet place far from the stress of the city.
Climbing the last stretch of the main street, on the right we find a large, recently built terrace. The terrace is in fact a square dedicated by Opi to its fallen soldiers of the two world wars. The terrace, partly covered, is also a viewpoint overlooking the valley of the Fiume Sangro, the Val Fondillo and the Valle Fredda. The construction is interesting: clearly modern, it combines the modern with the ancient in a restrained style.
From this viewpoint the view is really interesting and makes for some interesting photos of Monte Marsicano, Monte Petroso and the lower Monte Capraro and Balzo della Chiesa.

The overall architecture of the  village is very simple, as is that of the church of Santa Maria Assunta, from no less than the 12th century.
On the whole the village is very tidy and clean: you notice the constant care of the houses and their outer façades, and the flowers set on the window sills.
Opi is another example of how the industriousness of its people can turn a simple mountain village into a place worth visiting, if not even living in.

Allow us a remark on what a sustainable management of the area might be: what still strikes us negatively (but this is still a very "Italian" reality) is the inevitable presence of cars parked along the main avenue and in some of the lanes, where the look of this beautiful village ought to be protected even more.