High above the Aventino Valley, the medieval town of Casoli rises around Castello Masciantonio, with historic streets overlooking Abruzzo’s rolling countryside. The castle, where the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio once stayed, remains a defining feature of a town recognized among I Borghi più Belli d’Italia, Italy’s most beautiful villages.
Just below the castle stands Palazzo Ricci, an 18th-century noble residence currently being restored into 14 private residences, sold in 1/9 fractional shares. For anyone considering a second home in Abruzzo, it offers an intriguing possibility: owning a share of a historic Italian palazzo in a town where daily life continues year-round. Here, the appeal isn’t simply what there is to discover. It’s having somewhere to return to, with time to experience the region and its changing seasons at your own pace.
Casoli at a glance
Where: province of Chieti, Abruzzo, overlooking the Aventino Valley
Airport: Pescara (Abruzzo) Airport, 54km, approx. 1 hour by road.
Coast: the Adriatic coast is a 30-min drive away
Rome: approx. 2.5 hrs by road
Palazzo Ricci: 14 residences, restoration due for completion by summer 028
Ownership: 1/9 ownership; min. 5.5 weeks’ exclusive use per year, on a rotating calendar.
A second home in Casoli: a hilltop town to call your own
Life in Casoli unfolds around its cobbled streets, family-run trattorias, traditional bakeries, and lively piazza.
Longstanding traditions and religious celebrations honor the saints and the land, celebrate its history and local produce, and mark many lovely events throughout the year. You might miss these year-round celebrations on a quick vacation, but owning a second home here means you can fully immerse yourself in them when you return.
At its highest point, Castello Masciantonio has watched over the town for centuries. Below, narrow streets lead between historic stone buildings, small squares, and viewpoints across the Aventino Valley. With Palazzo Ricci just below the castle, owners will have the historic center close at hand while enjoying the comfort and privacy of their own residence.
For prospective second-home owners, there is something appealing about a place with an established identity and a community that continues beyond the summer season. Casoli isn’t dependent on a summer tourist season. You are not buying into a resort that closes between seasons, and for anyone weighing up a second home in Italy, that’s a key consideration. Casoli flows year-round, with fall and winter bringing some of its most distinctive traditions and celebrations.
Mountains, coast and airport: Casoli’s location
One of Casoli’s greatest advantages as a second-home location is the variety of landscapes within reach. Abruzzo is one of Italy’s greenest regions, with much of its landscape protected by national parks and nature reserves.
To the west, the Majella mountains rise above the valleys and villages of inland Abruzzo. Their wooded slopes, walking routes and changing seasonal scenery provide a dramatic backdrop to this part of Italy.
To the east, the Adriatic offers a different experience altogether. Around half an hour’s drive from Casoli, the coastline opens onto beaches and seaside towns, with the distinctive Trabocchi Coast and its wooden fishing platforms converted into seafood restaurants further along the shore.
Getting here is straightforward. Pescara Airport is about 54 km from Casoli and about an hour by road, with direct flights from the UK and Europe; Rome offers an alternative gateway for international travelers.
For owners at Palazzo Ricci, the developer also lists access to the beach and golf clubs, Alpine skiing facilities, and shared transport options, including Vespas, e-bikes, and an SUV. It offers considerable choice without requiring a different vacation destination each time.
The appeal of returning to Casoli
Casoli’s most distinctive moments aren’t necessarily in a guidebook itinerary but can be found in the town’s annual calendar. In late spring, the Infiorata del Corpus Domini carpets the historic center’s streets with colorful flower designs ahead of a procession. The date follows Easter each year. In August, the Ariel a Castello literary festival honors poet D’Annunzio, adding a cultural element to the summer.
Autumn is central to Casoli’s identity. In October, the town celebrates its patron saints, Santa Reparata and San Gilberto. One standout tradition is the Giornata dei Donativi, a colorful parade in which residents in traditional costume join a procession of decorated carts that pays tribute to the region’s agricultural heritage. This event has deep historical roots and features women carrying copper bowls of sweets on their heads, delighting the children waiting along the streets.
As December arrives, the Fuochi della Concezione light up Casoli’s historic center and surrounding areas. On the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, locals light traditional fires, honoring a centuries-old custom once believed to help the sun’s rebirth at the solstice. Today, this event brings the local community together for an evening of celebration and joyful gatherings around the fires. In January, the feast of Sant’Antonio Abate fills the streets with folk music, a joyful prelude to the carnival season that follows.
Experience Casoli like a local
These celebrations offer a glimpse of the town’s character throughout the year. Dates may vary each year, but each season brings annual events and a chance to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Casoli and its surrounding beauty. And that’s where the rotating ownership calendar at Palazzo Ricci becomes particularly appealing.
With a minimum of 5.5 weeks of personal use annually, allocated through rotating weeks, owners can experience different seasons over the years. One visit might coincide with the warmth and activity of summer; another could reveal autumn traditions or winter’s quieter atmosphere. Unlike a vacation, the beauty of a second home isn’t about trying to experience everything in one visit, but about the excitement of discovering different sides of a place over time.
Palazzo Ricci: a historic home in the heart of Casoli
For those drawn to the idea of a second home in Abruzzo, Palazzo Ricci combines the character of a historic Italian residence with the convenience of professionally managed ownership.
Dating from the 18th century, the palazzo sits just below Castello Masciantonio, overlooking the town and surrounding landscape. Its restoration, scheduled for completion in summer 2028, will create 14 individually designed, luxuriously furnished private residences, from one-bedroom apartments to larger homes, including a penthouse and cottage.
The development combines the privacy of a personal residence with the facilities and services of a luxury boutique hotel, including on-site concierge, housekeeping services, and grocery delivery. Landscaped gardens and a swimming pool with sun terraces offer space to relax, while an indoor Roman bath, owners’ lounge, and fitness center enhance the experience. Each residence is professionally managed, so owners can enjoy Abruzzo rather than manage an overseas property. Private storage will also allow owners to travel lighter on each visit.
Ownership is available in 1/9 shares, providing a minimum of 5.5 weeks of personal use each year through a rotating calendar. The fractional model lets buyers own a share of the property while splitting annual running costs with fellow owners. For those who dream of owning a home in Italy but don’t need year-round access, fractional ownership offers an alternative way to own a share of a historic property in Abruzzo, without the full responsibility (and costs) of owning the whole property.
In Casoli, that opportunity comes with something particularly appealing: a historic palazzo in an established Italian town, with the mountains, countryside, and Adriatic coast all within reach.
