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| Castelluccio Valmaggiore is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. |
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| It takes its name from the caste built here by the Byzantines around 1000 AD as the fortification commanded the valley of the Celone river. |
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| The village lies at 1452 m, making it the highest settlement in the Apennines. |
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| It lies above the "Great Plain" (Piano Grande - 1270 m), next to the Monti Sibillini National Park. |
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| Rain and meltwater accumulate on the surface of the plain, which is made of largely impermeable sediments. |
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| The greenish ditches drain the water towards openings called Ponors, which are part of the karstic underground drainage system. |
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| If the karst drainage is blocked for any reason, water backs up and turns the plain into a temporary lake. |
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| The village dates from the 13th century or slightly earlier, but was also settled by the Romans. |
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| The fields on the slopes below the village are cultivated; the town is known for its excellent lentils. |
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| In springtime the nature of the fields is in lavish color, with red poppies and yellow rapeseed. |
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| The plains grassland is ideal for sheep husbandry. There is a lot of ski- and trekking tourism. |
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