The name says who the mountain belonged to: serra of the monks, those of the abbey of San Liberatore a Maiella, founded around 856 and dependent on Montecassino. In 1065 abbot Desiderius had it portrayed on the bronze door of Montecassino, among the possessions that counted; inside, the central nave keeps a mosaic floor of 1275.
To guard the abbey a castle and a tower were raised: Castel Menardo on a rock spur and the Polegra tower on a rise to the south, now half collapsed, and both are in the village's coat of arms together with the hand of abbot Theobald. A little higher up are the tombs cut into the rock where abbots and pilgrims were buried, and the hermitage of Sant'Onofrio, frequented by the followers of Pietro da Morrone.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near Serramonacesca
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Places to see within 25 km
Outside Serramonacesca, but an easy day trip away.