Decontra - The Village
Decontra is situated at 810m altitude in an area of upland meadow on the lip of the mighty Orfento Gorge, and has magnificent views. The stone of the simple buildings was hand-quarried and shaped by the locals over the long, cold winters, and in the evening light it glows with a golden hue. The village has only been connected to the outside world since the 1970's - until then it had no electricity, and no road. Today, the village has around 80 inhabitants, both young and old. The elders still work the land and vegetable gardens, graze their flocks, gather their winter fuel from the high mountain woodlands, and congregate on summer evenings by the village fountains. The young resign themselves to a long commute to school and work, but without complaint: they love the village and would rather be there than anywhere else. Although Decontra has no shops, it is visited regularly by mobile suppliers, vans that announce their arrival with a cheery toot and a blast of creaking accordion music. They bring bread, fruit and vegetables, and cured meats and cheeses. The excellent village restaurant "Il Cervo" also has a bar
A ten minute drive from Decontra is the historic spa town of Caramanico Terme, stunningly situated at the mouth of the Orfento Gorge. The charming old town stretches steeply down a narrow spur with stepped alleys and narrow streets, while the newer part of town includes an extensive establishment of thermal baths. There are a range of shops, bars and restaurants, and a very small street market on Thursdays.
