A LAND TO DISCOVER

The Province of Teramo lies in the shadow of the mountain Gran Sasso of Italy, “The Sleeping Giant” and the glacier of southern Europe which stretches out to the Adriatic Sea. Nestled in a landscape of unique beauty, among fields, woods, snow patches almost perennial, strips of fig and olive trees, this province holds witnesses of many alternating cultures and traditions.

In the Necropolis of Campovalano, just a few Kms from the capital city, a small town originating from the bronze age comes to life with rich findings well preserved in the nearby Museum of Campli. Under the Roman dominion the territory was known as Praetutium (later became Abruzzo), and Teramo (Interamnia between two rivers) and Atri (Hatria) lived a golden period under the Emperors Augustus and Adrian.

Afterwards, the Normans, the Swedes, the Angioni, the Asburgo and the Spaniards. So many cultures and stories all different from one another in a small bit of land where you can easily reach the seaside in a half an hour from the mountain. Roman churches and abbeys are seen in the valley such as Santa Maria in Ronzano (Castel Castagna), Santa Maria of Propezzano (Morro d'Oro) and San Giovanni in Insulam (Isola del Gran Sasso).

Great artistic importance is given to the Cathedral of Atri with frescos of Andrea de Litio, one of the major painters of the 5th century (known world wide and to whom the Metropolitan Museum has dedicated an entire room), the Cathedral dome of Teramo with the silver Paliotto of Nicola da Guardiagrele.

And then Castelli, a small city of ceramics at the top of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, which preserves what Carlo Levi called “ The Sistine Chapel of the Maiolica” and that is the small pastoral church of Saint Donato with ceilings and floors made in the majolica style in the 15th century. A unique beauty in the depths of the green woods! Every summer the town holds an exhibit market of pottery which ends with the famous “plate tossing”.

This land is rich in history and traditions which blend with the legend known as the fugue of Lucrezia Borgia and Alfonso d'Aragona who found shelter in a small district (Castiglione della Valle) or “The Night of the Fears”, similar to Halloween but the Teramo style. Other small cities brought up under the reigns of Carlo Magno (Sant'Omero) and Charles V (Tortoreto) mustn't be forgotten.

“The Fortress” of Civitella del Tronto was built around 1576. It was the last bulwark of the Borbons before the Unity of Italy (1861) and built on a hill with a small, yet important, medieval centre at its feet. Religion also has a wide importance in this territory, from the Holy Steps of Campli, of 1776, where you can take advantage of asking for the plenum indulgence by climbing the stairs on your knees.

The Sanctuary of San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, Patron Saint of Abruzzo, is situated in Isola del Gran Sasso and has more than a million visitors each year. The characteristic of the Province is the proximity between the mountain and the seaside. Passing through the hills, abounded with vineyards and olive trees, you can get to the Adriatic Sea in a blink of an eye where the beach facilities welcome visitors on the wide, sandy shores.

Historic destination from the days of the Asburgo dynasty, the coast offers, aside from the high quality tourist services, also high level singing, sports, and folkloristic events. Any itinerary one may take across this antique and characteristic province cannot forget to stop at one of the many eating houses or farm holidays where the you can enjoy the traditional cuisine, the most delicious dishes of the classic cooking of Teramo such as maccheroni with small meatballs, le scrippelle 'mbusse, or fish broth.