Overview
The land of cement in the WWF oasis
On the south side of the Pescara river, in the Maiella and Morrone mountain community, lies the small village of Scafa. Known as an important centre for cement processing and asphalt quarries, this town in Abruzzo makes up part of the Oasi del Lago di Alanno – Piano d’Orta, a provincial oasis for the protection of fauna, managed by the WWF and a migratory stopover for numerous water birds. It boasts the region’s first nature trail, made from recycled materials such as plastic and wood.
Scafa is also the gateway to the Parco del Lavino, crossed by the sulphurous waters of the Lavino River which flow into small lakes and streams, giving them their striking turquoise colour.
In the town centre stands the Church of Madonna del Carmelo, with its concrete and stone structure, rustic façade, faux-Romanesque portal and large rose window. The building is flanked by a square bell tower. The oldest religious architecture is, however, the 19th-century Church of Santa Maria Goretti, rebuilt in the Romanesque style after the earthquake of 1915.
Don’t miss the Palazzo del Municipio, made from travertine with a brick civic tower, and the Mulino Farnese, a large farmhouse with a water mill.
