History of Abruzzo (with description of cities and monuments):

Lanciano, millenary city of ancient origins, that studies and excavations date back to the Roman era, is rich in art masterpieces of all kinds. The Plebiscito Square, with the Cathedral of the Madonna del Ponte (XI cent.) built on the Diocletian Bridge, stands on an archaeological underground path that links up the complex of San Legonziano with The church of San Francesco, seat of the Eucharistic Miracle. The Miracle, which every year brings in the city thousands of pilgrims attracted by mystery and deep faith, took place in the VII century when a Brazilian monk’s doubt turned the holy host into flesh and the wine into blood. The relics, five drops of coagulated blood and a thin circular flesh membrane, are preserved in a monstrance of Neapolitan School, inside the church of San Francesco, restored during the years in the Baroque style. In 1273 in Giacomo and Ricciarella Stasio’s house took place another eucharistic miracle, known as “fria Crist”: Ricciarella, in order to strengthen her marriage, followed a witch’s advice and tried to fry the blessed host and give it to her husband. The host changed into bloody flesh and was taken by the poor woman’s confessor and led to Offida, his natal town, where it is still preserved. Recently some fragments have been given back to the city of Lanciano and placed in the house that has become the little Church of Santa Croce, in the district of Lancianovecchia where there are still the evidences (a painting and some epigraphs) of the fact.

Lanciano preserves a characteristic historical centre divided into four historical districts. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore is a wonderful example of Burgundian-Cistercian art, characterized by two façades and four portals. In the inside, very evocative thanks to the imposing and slim pilasters with cross-vaults, there is the wonderful cross by Nicola da Guardiagrele, great masterpiece of the Abruzzo goldsmith’s art. Very interesting are also the portals of the various churches of the city like Sant’Agostino, Santa Lucia and the oldest, San Biagio (XI cent.) The city keeps alive the memory of its history with the several traditional festivals: the historical celebration of the Mastrogiurato’s investiture (he was the city governor during the fairs) and the September Festivities that originate from the old and important fairs that took place in the city, the Squilla (on December 23 rd), the Maundy Thursday and the Good Friday with the rites of the Holy Week. The Diocesan Museum also deserves a visit for its interesting Holy Art pieces that show the city’s deep spirituality, the Archaeological Museum and the House-Museum of Federico Spoltore, great Lanciano artist.

Not so far from Lanciano, there is the wonderful Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere. On the impressive Gulf of Venus, the complex represents a real Romanesque art jewel; austere and imposing thanks to its setting, close to the sea and immersed in the Mediterranean vegetation, the abbey gives off a particular fascination. The complex has been changed in the Cistercian-Gothic style under the Abbot Oderisio II who wanted to make the buildings even more majestic. Artistically important are the Moon Portal, the cloister and the crypt with its frescoes. The Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere is the undisputed jewel of Fossacesia, little city that ties its vitality to the summer tourism and to its charming coasts and the many structures that receive tourists of all kinds.

Deeply and always tied to the sea, Ortona town overlooks the Adriatic. Rich in culture, art and history, it is the city of the Apostle Saint Thomas and it proudly preserves his relics. The apostle of Doubt and Faith is still considered a present day man; he was martyred and died in 68 in Mylapour in India. After the destruction of the city his bones were brought to Edessa in order to deliver them from the Muslim profanations and then were moved again in the Kios island where they stayed until the last and conclusive transporting, in the town of Ortona. A parchment of 1258 and a deed of 1259 tell us that the relics were brought to Ortona by three galleys returning home after some raids in the Greek islands. The arrival of the relics had a big importance for the town and today there are still events and manifestatuins tied to the Saint. The relics are preserved in the Cathedral of San Tommaso. The city centre is rich in little roads to visit and the Orientale, the enchanting promenade that allows to observe the city gulf, leads to the Aragonese Castle built vertically on the sea.

Vasto, the old Histonium, is a town with ancient origins (IX cent. b. C.), operating basically in the maritime trade. After the destruction caused by Barbarians, the town was rebuilt grace to the rich and powerful Hispanic family, named D’Avalos, who built besides the magnificent D’Avalos Palace . Destroyed in XV century and then rebuilt, today you can find inside it the Pinacoteca & the Archeological Museum. In the city centre you can admire several Churches: The Cathedral of San Giuseppe, with its XII century façade, the Church of San Lorenzo , the Church of the Carmine. The main monument of the town is the magnificent Caldoresque Castle, built in the XII century. The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, with its nice steeple of the XIII century conserves at the inside a precious relic: a thorn of Jesus Christ’s crown, a gift of Pio IV to Alfonso D’Avalos, that on the day of the Holy Friday is covered with a white woolly stuff by miracle. According to the density of the woolly stuff, the people preview their own future crop. Moving from the city centre you can easily reach the impressive panoramic view overlooking the wonderful “Golden Gulf”.

The town of Manoppello is quite documented since the Longobard period even if it has older origins. The centre preserves proof of its medieval past in the little picturesque roads and the several churches and squares. The Sanctuary of the Holy Face attracts several believers who go and admire the Veronica holy veil. The transparent veil, representing Christ’s portrait, is considered together with the Holy Shroud, one of the two original Christ’s faces, an “acheropita” image, which is not made by human hands. The scientific studies, led by the Jesuit and Art Historian Mr. Pfeiffer, done on this image, did confirm its truthfulness. It seems also that the veil is the original image exposed centuries ago on the Veronica’s altar in Rome and stolen in the XVII century. The Capuchin Convent where the veil is kept, has at the side of the holy building, the Pilgrim’s House, that, immersed in nature, is the ideal place for spiritual meetings and stays. Besides the Sanctuary, in manoppello you can admire a jewel of the Cistercian architecture, the Abbey of Santa Maria d’Arabona, situated on a hill over the Pescara Valley. Built on the pagan temple dedicated to Goddess Bona, the construction, founded 1208, presents, in the inside, ribs and cross-vaults and important furnishings such as the Gothic tabernacle, the Easter candelabrum and the paintings of 1337. The outside, on the contrary, has two rose windows and five single-light windows. The whole complex is immersed in a lovely park.

Bucchianico is a small hill town of ancient origins with a strong agricultural inclination. You should visit Piazza Roma, the convent, the Church of San Francesco and the Church of Sant’Urbano, patron saint of the city, whose relics are still preserved. Each year, in May, there is the festival of the “banderesi”, a historical-folkloristic commemoration bound to the war events of 1300. At that time, Sant’Urbano intervened, suggesting the winning strategy in reply to the attempt at invasion of the Teatini people. Bucchianico was the birthplace of San Camillo De Lellis (1550-1614), one of the protagonists of the Abruzzi spirituality. He was the founder of the Order of the Regular Clerks Ministers of the Sick and was canonized in 1746. He devoted himself entirely to the assistance and comfort of the sick, revolutionizing the way of giving assistance to patients. To the Saint are dedicated the church-sanctuary and the convent, where his bust is kept.

Some kilometers away from Bucchianico there is the city of Chieti, one of the most important places in the region. The old Theater was above all a Marrucini city then became a Roman Municipium. In confirmation of its ancient origins are the archaeological finds found in the city territory that constitute and enrich the National Archaeological Museum. Among the finds, there is the symbol of Abruzzi, the statue of the Capestrano Warrior of the VI B.C. The Cathedral, dating back to Teodorico’s times (840 A.D.), was enlarged in the XI century with the construction of the crypt. The church dedicated to San Giustino Bishop and Martyr, welcomes the visitor with the majesty of its elevated setting and its stately inside aisles. The façade and the entrance are recent but remind the XIV century style. In the inside there is the saint’s silver bust, work by Nicola da Guardiagrele. On the contrary, the bell tower (1335) decorated with mullioned windows and the crypt with traces of medieval frescoes are original. The Suffrage Chapel is the seat of the Mount of the Dead Confraternity that organizes the historical Procession of the Good Friday. The event attracts crowds of believers and tourists that admire the evocative procession that moves forward illuminated by torches, with the Miserere music. The city was also the chief town of Citeriore Abruzzi and was for this reason fortified. Porta Pescara is today an evidence of this fact. Churches worth seeing: the 1317 Santa Maria in Tricalle for its original octagonal plan, San Tommaso della Scarpa (XII century), Sant’Agostino and Santa Maria della Civitella with the portal by Nicola da Mancino. Art and culture city, today it’s the centre of many cultural events, some sheltered in the XIX century Marrucino Theatre, recently recognized as an Opera and Tradition House.

Guardiagrele, Gabriele D’Annunzio’s “town of stone”, enjoys a wonderful setting at the Majella’s feet. Town of medieval origins, has always had a strong craftsman vocation, still flourishing, in the goldsmith field, copper and wrought iron. Among its most famous goldsmiths, it was Nicola da Guardiagrele who created majestic works such as the procession crosses or the Frontal preserved in Teramo. The town is famous also for the confectionary production of the typical “sise delle monache”. The town centre is rich in interesting churches, such as San Francesco, of 1300, with the Romanesque-Gothic portal, and several important mansions along the little roads. The jewel is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, built between the XII and the XVIII centuries with the Majella white stone. What makes it original is the central square tower that acts as an entrance and as a bell tower with the interesting ogive portal. The inside, restored in 1700 is wide and has a wood roof, several stuccoes and great church supplies. The 1473 fresco by Andrea De Litio depicting St. Christopher, the church of San Rocco and the Duomo Museum also belong to the complex.

The Gran Sasso chain overlooks with its magnificence the territory of the Province of L’Aquila, framing villages, towns and art masterpieces. It is a territory to explore, loved by Pope John Paul II (who will be soon declared Saint), to whom have been recently dedicated a peak and a path of the Gran Sasso as he loved to meditate in the little church of San Pietro della Ienca. This mountain received two fundamental personages in the history of the Christian spirituality, both Popes and, like few others in the history of Church, declared Saints when they were still alive: Celestine V and John Paul II. The primitive nucleus of the city of L’Aquila rose on the Acquili hill on the initiative of the inhabitants of the castles of the Aterno Valley who thought it was better to aggregate in a sole centre in order to better defend themselves. Officially recognized as a city with the diploma of Conrad IV in 1254, and then destroyed by Manfred in 1259 because it allied itself with the Pope against him, was rebuilt since 1266 with Charles I of Anjou’s authorization. In the reconstruction it was subdivided in city areas (one for each founding castle) with their own churches, squares and fountains, later united in the four districts (two of the ex Forcona countryside and two of Amiterno) together with the chief churches.

Today it’s a city that offers many tourist, cultural, historical and naturalistic opportunities, supported by a good receptivity. L’Aquila keeps several art works, wonderful churches, great mansions and a lot of fountains. Among these, peculiar is the Fountain of the ninety-nine spouts. It was built in 1272 and originally it had only 15 spouts that became 99 with the passing of time. Without doubt the Abruzzo chief town is proud to tie its name to one of the most important personalities of the Church history and Abruzzo religiousness: Pietro da Morrone, in the world Pietro Angeleri, born in Isernia in 1215. It was this extraordinary man who wanted the construction of the most important monument of the city, the Basilica of Collemaggio. According to the legend, it was founded after the Virgin’s apparition to the hermit Pietro, who wanted to build a church dedicated to her. On 29 th May 1294, in that place, he was crowned Pope with the name of Celestine V. On that occasion, he granted, through the Forgiveness Bull, the plenary indulgence to those who would go to the church with penitential spirit in that particular day. This indulgence is known as “Perdonanza”, and it’s an important spiritual and civil festivity, accompanied by cultural and entertainment events. The basilica reflects the simplicity and austerity of its founder with a strong Cistercian mark.

In the centuries it underwent several contaminations that have been eliminated trough an attentive restoration that gave us back the imposing pillars, the simple wood covering and the white and red stones floor. Under the apse, is the funeral monument of Celestine V whose mortal remains were brought here in 1327, after the canonization of 1313. The outside is characterized by an horizontal structure, three rose windows finely made and the three imposing portals. The central one, subsequent to the others, is full of chapels, spiral little columns and an archivolt with concentric spiral cordons. On the left side of the Church can be seen the Holy Door (the only one outside Rome) from where Pietro da Morrone entered to be crowned Pope. L’Aquila cannot forget the other great spiritual personage of the city: the preacher Saint Bernardine of Siena, dead in 1444 in the Convent of San Francesco where he came to preach. Thanks to Giovanni da Capestrano, Bernardine of Siena was declared Saint. Afterwards, built on behalf of him a church of XV, richly decorated inside and outside. Inside can be seen the Saint’s Mausoleum built between 1498 and 1505 by Silvestro dell’Aquila and the Bernardine monogram placed in the middle of the precious wooden ceiling carved by Nicola Mosca of Pescocostanzo after the earthquake of 1703.

The Sanctuary of San Gabriele dell’Addolorata rises close to the small town of Isola del Gran Sasso. Visited by thousands of pilgrims during the year, it is located at the feet of the Gran Sasso, that dominates from above and seems to protect the place where it is preserved one of the strongest examples of the Abruzzo spirituality. the church is dedicated to Saint Gabriel who devoted himself entirely to Church with such a devotion and a serenity that he is considered the Saint of Joy and Smile. Saint Gabriel died very young on 27 February 1962 of tuberculosis, in the little convent of Isola del Gran Sasso (founded in Saint Francis’ time), where he moved two years and a half before. The Saint’s Tomb, where each year thousands of pilgrims kneel down and where miracles still happen, is placed, since 1908, close to the right column of the transept. In 1970 started the works for the construction of the new Sanctuary. Inspired by the need of giving hospitality to thousands of pilgrims, has also a Conference-Room, Exhibition Room and Groups-Rooms while in the lower floor there is the Saint’s Crypt where in summer is placed the urn containing his mortal remains.

At the Mount Camicia’s feet, in the Abruzzo National Park there is the ancient town of Castelli. Its fame is connected with the fine practice of ceramics and for this art Castelli is known all over the world. As a matter of fact it is the home of the famous ceramists who, from the XIII century onwards, handed down from father to son this ancient art. Especially in the XVII century it rises a particular style: bright colours (orange, blue, yellow and dark green) on a white ground. In this period, the families Grue, Gentile and Cappelletti distinguished themselves by their precious hand-made goods. Many of their works are displayed in the Ceramics Museum, not so far from the town. A magnificent example of this art is the ceiling of the church of San Donato, called the “Sistine Chapel of the Majolica”. In the XVII century the best ceramists of the city (united in the Confraternity of Arts and Professions) built a majolica vault of about 100 square meters, unique work in the Italian art. This art is still practiced with great skill in the several shops of the small town.

Civitella del Tronto, located in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, had a very important role in the history of Southern Italy. With its fortress, built in the XI century and fortified in the XV century, it was able to oppose the French, last brave centre of the Bourbon resistance. From the fortress, situated in a enchanting panoramic setting, you can observe all the surrounding territory and the town centre at its feet, rich in precious churches and mansions.

Campli is a town rich in history and traditions that are still preserved. In the square is the Parliament Palace, with arches, 3-mullioned windows and wide medeival portico. In front there is the beautiful cathedral of Santa Maria in Platea (XIV century). Along the main street are mansions of great beauty, like the Chemist's House and Physician's house with wonderful cloisters and open galleries. In the Convent of Sant'Onofrio is the Holy Staircase.

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