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2022
Civitella del Tronto. The Church of S. M. degli Angeli
Wedged between the alleys of the village, the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Civitella del Tronto is, according to some historical sources, the oldest church in the town.
2018
Rocca Calascio (AQ)
Rocca Calascio is a fortress located in Abruzzo, in the province of L'Aquila, in the territory of the municipality of Calascio, at an altitude of 1450 meters above sea level, just above the town. It is included in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. It is known for the presence of the castle, one of the highest in Italy, and the ancient medieval village below, still inhabited by some inhabitants. The Rocca is considered one of the symbols of Abruzzo. The foundation of the fortress is probably due to the will of King Ruggero d'Altavilla after the Norman conquest of 1140 with a prevalent sighting function, even if the first historical document attesting its presence is dated 1239. It was part of Calascio, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Carapelle Calvisio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio of the famous Barony of Carapelle, whose historical events he followed until 1806, the year of the abolition of feudality. Over the centuries, the Pagliara, Plessis, Colonna, Celano, Caldora, Accrocciamuro, Todeschini Piccolomini, Del Pezzo, Cattaneo, Medici and Bourbon families followed one another in the domain. In particular, in 1463 it was granted by King Ferdinand to Antonio Todeschini of the Piccolomini family who modified the fortification by equipping it with a pebble wall and four cylindrical towers for military use, with a Ghibelline battlements. In 1703 it was devastated by a violent earthquake following which the highest area of ​​the village was abandoned and a large part of the population moved to the nearby town of Calascio. In the twentieth century, even the last remaining families left the village and the fortress remained uninhabited. At the end of the century, however, also in the wake of the success deriving from the setting of some films (above all Lady Hawke of 1985 and The Name of the Rose of 1986), some houses were recovered and others were converted to accommodation facilities; Furthermore, the castle has undergone an important restoration and consolidation operation and is now one of the main tourist attractions in the area, thanks to the work of two spouses and their family who have opened a widespread hotel just below the castle.
2024
Alfedena. The Castle
Alfedena Castle is the ruin of a castle dating back to the 10th-11th century in the Italian municipality of the same name of which an octagonal tower and parts of the walls remain. The ruins are located in a dominant position over the town, along Via Luigi De Amicis. The wall rests its foundations directly on the rocky thickness of the mountain hill overlooking Alfedena, has an irregular circular appearance, with multiple layers of walls, and double curtain walls with fornix-shaped entrances are preserved. The tower, although cut off at the top, is the best preserved element. The castle was founded around the 10th century by the Frankish lords, who divided the county of Marsi between them. In fact, Alfedena was among these possessions and, on top of the castle hill, a fortified tower was built, which communicated with those of the other villages, such as Scontrone, Castel di Sangro and Barrea. The tower with an irregular plan was rebuilt in the 13th century, as demonstrated by the octagonal structure, perhaps before it had a cylindrical base, the fact is that it testifies to the ancient function of the castle, which was that of lookout, guarding the town below, developed from the 14th century onwards, and together with the fortified enclosure, it also served as a shelter for citizens during periods of emergency, such as sieges. In the 14th century it was a fiefdom of Simone Di Sangro, the rich family from the Peligna valley, who had various fiefdoms, only to then pass to Giacomo Caldora in 1422. In 1456 a serious earthquake damaged the castle, which slowly lost the ancient central function of Alfedena, given that the main political and economic activities developed further and further downstream, along the Pescasseroli-Candela sheep track. The castle was enfeoffed during the Spanish viceroyalty to various lords, but it never returned to its ancient functions, it was damaged again by the Maiella earthquake of 1706, then by the earthquakes of 1915 (Marsica earthquake) and 1984, being restored only in the first years 2000, to be visited as a panoramic location, together with the octagonal tower.
2009
Scanno (AQ)
Scanno (Scannë in Abruzzo) is an Italian town of 1 883 inhabitants located in the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. The municipal territory, surrounded by the Marsicani Mountains, is partly included within the borders of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise and is in turn part of the Peligna mountain community. It is an important winter and summer resort and is part of the club The most beautiful villages in Italy. In the surroundings there are the homonymous lake, which however belongs for three quarters to the municipality of Villalago, the ski resorts of Passo Godi and Monte Rotondo, the plateaus of Monte Greco and Lake Pantaniello, as well as the natural reserve of the Sagittario Gorges. Scanno is also known as the City of Photographers; a place much appreciated by many Italian and foreign authors. Throughout the twentieth century, its unmistakable views and its people were the subjects of many famous shots taken by Hilde Lotz-Bauer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli, Renzo Tortelli, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Ferdinando Scianna, Mario Cresci and many others . In 1964 it was a photograph taken in Scanno by Mario Giacomelli that became part of the prestigious collection of photographic works of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This image is known as The Scanno Boy, or Scanno Boy.
2022
Abruzzo, Italy. Spectacular landscapes
2024
Albe, Massa d’Albe. The church of San Pietro in Albe
The church of San Pietro in Albe stands on the hill of San Pietro, one of the three hills surrounding Alba Fucens, the Roman city founded in 304 BC at the foot of Mount Velino.
2023
Lama dei Peligni. Church of S. Nicholas and Clemente
Parish Church of the Child Jesus or of Saints Nicholas and Clemente. The parish church, originally dedicated to SS. Nicola and Clemente, was dedicated in 2015 to the Child Jesus, with a Decree of the archbishop mons. Bruno Strong. It is located in Piazza Umberto I, in front of the town hall. The original building dates back to the 16th century. An epigraph on the bell tower attests that the church was built in 1589 in the eighteenth century two windows were added on the facade for more light. The portico, located on the right side, dates back to the 20th century. The facade is rectangular. A tympanum dominates the portal, while a rose window is decorated with some little heads of angels. The portico has six bays with a round arch. The bell tower has three levels marked on the outside by a stringcourse frame. The interior has three naves, one central and two lateral. In the side aisles there are minor altars, with representations of saints. In the right aisle appear, in order, a niche with St. Sebastian, a first modern altar with an effigy of the Divine Mercy (recently set up), which houses the baptismal font, the latter covered by a late Gothic wooden chest dating back to the nineteenth century. Subsequently there is an altar with Our Lady of Sorrows and the dead Christ, then an altar with St. Anthony of Padua and finally a last one with the representation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the left aisle there is, in order, a first altar with the Madonna del Rosario, then an altar with a painting of the Madonna delle Grazie. Subsequently an altar with S. Cesidio, followed by that in honor of S. Giuseppe. Finally there is a niche with S. Gabriele dell'Addolorata. At the back of the church, on the entrance door, there is a mezzanine supported by four columns, which houses a pipe organ built in the 17th century. At the end to the left of the central nave there is a wooden pulpit, with representations of the life of Jesus. The main altar is located at the end of the central nave, located in the center of the presbytery and is illuminated by the light from the dome. Behind the altar is the urn of the Holy Child, with the tabernacle below.
2024
Celano. Church of St. John the Baptist
Begun in the 13th century, it was completed in the 15th century. The rose window has the head of the Baptist in the center. The three internal naves are divided by octagonal pillars
2024
Morro D’Oro. The church of S. Maria di Propezzano
The church of Santa Maria di Propezzano is a Romanesque-style Catholic place of worship in Abruzzo located in the Vomano valley, in the municipality of Morro d'Oro, in the province of Teramo.
2020
L'Aquila. Basilica of San Bernardino - 2019
The church of San Bernardino is located at the end of the homonymous and scenic staircase, in the historic center of L'Aquila, about 600 m from the Spanish Fort. The construction of a church that worthily guarded the remains of San Bernardino da Siena (1380-1444) - the persuasive preacher of the Order of the Friars Minor who died in L'Aquila and proclaimed a saint in 1450 - was strongly desired by the influential friar Giovanni da Capistrano. At first the conventual friars opposed the construction of the church, however the works were started and completed between 1454 and 1472. The earthquake of 1703 seriously damaged the church, which was renovated according to the stylistic and architectural methods of the time. In 1946, at the behest of Pope Pius XII, the church received the honorary title of minor basilica.
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