Rocca di Cambio is a small mountain town in the district of L’Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzi. It is the highest commune of the whole Appennino, since it is situated at a height of 1,434 metres above sea-level. It lies in the northern part of the Altopiano Velino-Sirente, today otherwise known as Altopiano delle Rocche, as well as the small towns of Rocca di Mezzo, Rovere, Ovindoli and Terranera. This is an area worth knowing for its usages, customs, traditions, the unmistakable taste of its cuisine and for the story of its people whose lives have been characterized by hard work, poverty and sacrifices for a long time.

The inhabitants of Rocca di Cambio lived on a poor farming and on small sheep and cattle breeding until 50 years ago. In fact only at the beginning of the fifties, the first signs of a positive change were noticed in the local economy thanks to Mr. Aldo Jacovitti. He has been leading the commune as its mayor with skill and enthusiasm since 1951 and for three authorities, and mainly devoting to the revaluation of the historic centre, the road system, the hotel industry and the tourist development.

His greatest commitment was the creation of the skiing resort of Campo Felice which, as a consequence, led to that stimulus determining a particular trend inversion in the local economy. In 1965, 1966 and 1968 Rocca di Cambio became famous and important because it was one of the laps of the Italian cycle race named “Giro d’Italia”. They were and still remain three unforgettable occasions in the history of this small town that its mayor, Mr. Jacovitti, wished to offer his citizens.

People of the sport world as well as to that of journalism and of television were all there, in that small mountain town. Among them, there were Mr. Torriani, Mr. Zavoli, Mr. De Zan, Mr. Merckx, Mr. Anquetil, Mr. Gimondi, Mr. Adorni, Mr. Raschi, Mr. Altig, Mr. Motta and Mr. Taccone. They all praised Rocca di Cambio. Moreover, on the occasion of the lap of “Giro d’Italia” in 1965, a parallel show was organized between that small town and that one of Saas Fee, a Swiss small mountain town situated at a height of 1,802 metres above sea-level which was one of the laps of “Giro d’Italia” in that same year as well. The ceremony of making Rocca di Cambio and Saas Fee twin cities was arranged for that occasion by the two organizers of such a pleasant initiative who were the two mayors of those two small towns in that year as well: the formerly mentioned Mr. Aldo Jacovitti and Mr. Hubert Baumann.

Among so many important people of the culture world as well as of sport and of politics who stayed at Rocca di Cambio, we cannot help remembering the Abruzzese writer Ignazio Silone (who wrote the last chapter of his famous novel, “Uscita di Sicurezza”, just here).

Nowadays Rocca di Casmbio has 478 inhabitants and has made a name for itself as a tourist and a winter sport resort which many people also prefer as their summer holiday destination.

Pro-loco tourist office of Rocca di Cambio
Telephone and fax number : [+39] 0862 918100
Email: proloco@roccadicambio.it - www.comune.roccadicambio.aq.it