OTHER TOWNS

PALENA

Email us if you have surnames or soprannomi from Palena that you would like to have posted on this page.

Click Here to view Palena surnames

OTHER TOWNS MAP

PARK TOWNS Abbateggio Ateleta Bolognano Campo di Giove Cansano Caramanico Terme Civitella M. R. Corfinio Fara San Martino Gamberale Guardiagrele Lama dei Peligni Lettopalena Manoppello Montenerodomo Pacentro Palena Palombaro Pennapiedimonte Pescocostanzo Pizzoferrato Popoli Pratola Peligna Pretoro Rapino Rivisondoli Roccacasale Rocca Pia Roccaraso Salle Sant' Eufemia San Valentino   Serramonacesca Sulmona Taranta Peligna Tocco da Casauria NEARBY TOWNS Alanno Cepagatti Cugnoli Nocciano Pietranico Roccamontepiano Rosciano Scafa Turrivalignani

Photo at left from www.profesnet.it; photo at right fromTHIS Italian page.

Palena, in the province of Chieti, is located at an elevation of 2500 feet on the eastern slopes of the Maiella, beside the Aventino River.  Its population is 1655.  Surrounded by meadows and woods, the town is a popular summer resort. Palena is an ancient town, probably originally settled by the Peligni, an Italic tribe.  The first reliable records date from the 10th century, when the town was the feudal fief of the de Letto family.  Palena subsequently passed into the hands of a series of noble families: the Conca, the Manoppello in the 12th century, the Orsini, the Calora in the 15th century, the Capua, and finally the d'Aquino, who retained possession until the end of the feudal system in the first decade of the 19th century. Heavily damaged in WWII and also by the earthquake of 1984, not many traces of the original town are left.  The 11th century castle was destroyed during the war but was rebuilt.  The parish church, San Falco,  houses a bust in silver of St. Falcus, Palena's patron saint, and beside the church stands its 18th century bell tower (in the center of the photo above left). On the edge of the cliff overlooking the Aventino River is the sanctuary of La Madonna dell'Altare (photo above, right).  The sanctuary, which was originally built in the 14th century as a hermitage and fortified church, has been enlarged and restored over the centuries.  It was in the possession of a private family, the Perticone, until 1960 when it was given to the town on condition that it be maintained as a place of worship. The area around Palena has a wealth of hot springs: Capo Giume, Tocchisio, Castelcieco and Tre Vallone, all near the town.  A short distance away are the ruins of Juvanum, the site of a thriving Roman town built over an earlier settlement created by the Frentani, a local Italic tribe. Juvanum contains the remains of an amphitheater, acropolis and forum, but the ruins have been extensively plundered for building materials over the centuries. Click Here for a wonderful Italian website about Palena, by Nano Napoleone, with many many wonderful photos of the town, both old and new.

Lu Lette | La Rocca | The Area | Other Towns | "Stories" Lu Lette Surnames | La Rocca Surnames | Maps | Family Nicknames    Organizations & Events | Scrapbook | Genealogy Help      Links | Wallpaper | Sponsors      Sign Our Guestbook | Home | View Our Guestbook         *DOWNLOAD LU LETTE AND LA ROCCA SONGS*

Pacentro

Palombaro