Palena​

Latest update: 2 March 2022
​The town of Palena is situated within the Province of Chieti in the central Italian region of Abruzzo. On 1 January 2022 it had a population of 1,307 inhabitants. Standing at an elevation of 767 metres above sea level, the comune covers 91 square kilometres. ​

​Palena has been listed among Touring Club Italia's Bandiera Arancione or Orange Flag towns since 2006. 
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Palena lies at the southern end of the Majella National Park and one of its main attractions is a brown bear sanctuary. The Area Faunistica dell'Orso Bruno allows its visitors to see the brown bears in their natural habitat but at a safe distance.

​The brown bear is further studied at a museum on the other side of town called the MOM Marsicano Bear Museum. A couple of kilometres south of the town and just off the main road are the Sorgenti dell'Aventino: a series of waterfalls and streams. 

Palena has an attractive centro storico with a number of interesting buildings including the Castello Ducale di Palena which houses a palaeontology museum (Museo Geopaleontologico dell'Alto Aventino). There's also a small theatre (Teatro Aventino) in the town while most life takes place around its main square: Piazza Municipio. 
Comune di Palena
Province: Chieti

Region: Abruzzo

Population: 1,307​ (source: ISTAT 1 January 2022)

​Size: 91 km²

​Elevation: 767 metres

Highlights: Sorgenti dell'Aventino, Area Faunistica dell'Orso Bruno

​Close by: Lama dei Peligni, Pescocostanzo, Rivisondoli, Roccaraso​

Recommended hotel: ​​Relais Ducale Spa & Pool (16 km)
Awarded the Bandiera Arancione (Orange Flag)

Listed since: 2006

1 of 6 in Abruzzo listed by Touring Club Italiano

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