The Municipality of Navelli, historical and landscape. In the Province of L'Aquila, in the center of Abruzzo, in a picturesque landscape enclosed between the southern side of the Gran Sasso and the Aterno River Valley, winds for about 20 km the Navelli Plateau, home to a pleistocene lake emptied in ancient times. .

Two boroughs in particular dominate as silent spectators this area, from a strategically central location: Navelli observes the plateau up to the steps that lead to the Tritana Valley and Conca Peligna, while its fraction, Civitaretenga, silhouettes its visual horizon up to the jump in altitude that leads to the Conca Aquilana: the two villages from 1800 are united in the only town of Navelli.

In the first vestina and then Roman times, the settlements were on the plain along one of the streets on which the flocks and the herds were led from Sabina to Apulia, as will happen in the late Middle Ages with the establishment of the sheep tracks. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the "barbarian invasions" and the Byzantine reconquest - predispose the territory to the Lombard expansion. Between the sixth and seventh centuries. the whole area is characterized by Benedictine monasticism supported by the Lombard aristocracy. From the medieval texts that testify, among other things, the clash between monks and local communities for the possession of land is derived the presence of nine villages (villae) in the area of Navelli, all home to monastic possessions between the eighth and tenth centuries. In the 11th century - the period of the fortification -, a line of fortifications - such as Civitaretenga and Navelli - defended the monastic patrimonies that the Normans soon appropriated. In the middle of the twelfth century the definitive constitution of the Kingdom of Sicily by the Normans was completed: Navelli and Civitaretenga became two castrensi districts (castra/castella), pieces of the mosaic of which the kingdom was composed. With the foundation of the city of L'Aquila in 1254, these castles passed administratively to the countryside (comitatus) aquilano: in the taxation imposed on it in 1269 also appear Navelli and Civitaretenga. 

The visible remains of the castle of Navelli with Porta Castello date back to this period. To the first fortification is added a second round of walls wider, to accommodate the inhabitants of the plain: then the late-medieval village of Navelli was born, which was accessed through Porta San Pelino, Porta Santa Maria and Porta Villotta. Some nefarious events, such as earthquakes and plague epidemics recorded in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, mark the territory. In fact, as a result of which restoration and changes of use of some places have been carried out: in particular in the church of Sant'Egidio in Civitaretenga the frescoes of the fourteenth century are "defaced" with a sort of graffiti chronicle of the events dated 1478-1480; meanwhile in Navelli a part of the castle walls, along with the bell tower, already restored a short time before, became the seat of the cult of the patron saint against the plague, San Sebastiano, with rooms below large enough to contain the deaths caused by the disease. From 1529 Navelli is subject to the feudal rule of the barons until the Napoleonic law of 1806, with which feudalism is abolished, and begins the municipal history of the Municipality of Navelli. From this moment, the baronial palace, symbol of a feudal domination lasting almost three centuries, becomes a simple noble residence. During the three centuries of feudal rule, numerous changes had occurred to change the appearance of the medieval village, while not altering its layout: Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical were mixed and superimposed on Romanesque and Gothic creating the masterful and sometimes unaware work of art in stone - a real open-air museum - which earned the country the title of "One of the most beautiful villages in Italy" in 2008.

The Renga Plateau dominates and embraces the town and the collective spirit. A breathtaking scenery at about 1360 meters above sea level, on the border with the Natural Park of the Simbruini Laziali. A beautiful, versatile expanse, scene of romantic getaways and children’s green park. The Renga is inhabited by the capistrellana community all year round. It’s an oasis where you can find inspiration, listen to the silence, enjoy the company of friends. It is at the same time a meeting place for athletes both in summer and in winter, lending itself with elegance to trekking and mountain walks, but also to cross-country skiing when covered with snow.