Canistro has its origins in the Valle Roveto, a border area between Abruzzo and Lazio, nestled between high mountains: to the right of Liri i Simbruini-Ernici, whose peaks reach altitudes of more than 2000 meters, to the left of the river the mountain slopes of the Abruzzo National Park. 

Canistro is crossed by the Liri river, the longest river of Abruzzo and the Rio Sparto. Inhabited since the time of the Italian settlements in the Roveto Valley, Canistro preserves a complex archaeological stratification in its two main towns: Canistro Superiore and Canistro Inferiore. In ancient times, in the locality of Canistro inferiore, there was a Romanesque-Italic village, dependent on the town of Antinum; it grew in importance when the emperor Trajan, at the beginning of the second century AD, had a road called "via traiana" that connected the town with Alba Fucens, Antinum and Sora. For the Middle Ages there is no historical information about Canistro until the twelfth century; it seems possible that the castle of the population on the hill where Canistro Superiore rises, occurred for defense reasons around the fifth-sixth century. Around the twelfth century Canistro was equipped with oval walls and a watchtower.

With the arrival of the Colonna, to which the coat of arms of the town still refers, in 1497, Canistro became part of the Duchy of Tagliacozzo and the barony of the Valle Roveto until the laws of subversion of feudalism of 1806. In the final phase, the Vecchiarelli family established itself, playing prestigious roles in the city community and building the Vecchiarelli palace. In 1854 it became an autonomous municipality. In this period the population amounted to about 1020 inhabitants. After a few years, in 1888 Canistro built his first aqueduct and a few years later his first public fountain. For centuries, brigandage has characterized the history of Canistro and the villages of the Valley, a borderland between two kingdoms, the Papal States and the kingdom of Naples. Even today, on the mountains, you can see the boundary stones with the Bourbon lily on one side and the key of Peter on the other. On 13 January 1915 an earthquake of shocking intensity devastated the country, as the whole of Marsica, Valle Roveto and Sorano. In that catastrophe 80 people died and the damage was such as to induce the population to move again to the valley floor or Lower Canistro, where the Town Hall was also transferred, incorporating the Railway Station. Canistro, today, is a town of about one thousand inhabitants in the province of L'Aquila, has a territory with an extension of about 16 square kilometers and consists of two centers: Canistro Inferiore (555 m.s.l.m.) and Canistro Superiore (831 m.s.l.m.). The etymology of the name is uncertain: according to some it derives from the term "Canistri", wicker containers that were once made in the country in large quantities and widely exported. According to a popular tradition, on the hill where Canistro was built, there was a kennel: hence the name.

Canistro, known as a country of mineral waters for the 5 springs falling in the municipal territory, including the Sant'Antonio - Sponga is the main, borders to the west with the Regional Natural Park of the Simbruini Mountains. Not too far from the same town, towards Sora we find the Zompo Lo Schioppo Reserve, towards Avezzano we find the Monte Salviano Nature Reserve, the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park and the Abruzzo National Park. 

At the source "Sant'Antonio", halfway between Canistro Inferiore and Canistro Superiore, was born the natural park of "La Sponga" located on the mountain range of Simbruini: ponds, waterfalls and streams between meadows and woods, in a context where nature meets a secular rurality. Known nationally and visited annually by more than 30,000 people, the park covers about 20 hectares. The spring waters are collected in a first small reservoir and then are channelled into a second larger pond from which flows a copious waterfall. The park is equipped with parking places, equipped with wooden benches and stone fire points, a playground, a large parking and a service area. Here you can spend relaxing and fun days; you can leave for free excursions or guided on foot, on horseback or by bicycle up to spectacular scenic spots that surround the boundaries of the Regional Park of the Simbruini Mountains, or venture into the Rio Sparto practicing canyoning. Canistro offers the possibility to make interesting and demanding excursions. In prominence the peaks of Monte Viglio (q. 2156 - Monti Cantari) and Monte Viperella (m. 1836). Also here, it is possible to do less demanding trekking or cross-country skiing with the possibility of long walks through the chestnut woods and in the beech forests. The network of trails of the Municipality of Canistro, for a total of 47 km and that also embraces the territories of the neighboring Civitella Roveto and Capistrello, is part of the CAI network and also includes sections suitable for mountain biking.

Every year there are two pilgrimages to the town of Vallepietra: one to the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity, the other to the sanctuary of Sant'Anna. The pilgrims, leaving in groups, reach the sanctuary after two days of walking through the aforementioned woods and forests. Not to mention, and certainly not least, are also the traditional patron festivals that are held in August each year. The very active local associations, among the many initiatives, organize every year, in October, the "Sagra della Castagna Roscetta" and the event "Sapori d'Autunno"food and wine events that enhance the gastronomic heritage and local flavors with typical products such as the already known, Roscetta chestnut, mushrooms and truffles, and Rovetano oil.