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PENNAPIEDIMONTE

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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 from THIS site about Pennapiedimonte

This photo is from THIS site about the towns in Chieti.

Photos from the same website as above right photo.

Pennapiedimonte, in the province of Chieti, is located on a rocky spur at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Maiella, overlooking the valley of the Avella River.  The town is at an elevation of 2200 feet, and its population is about 614.  Legend says that the original name of the village was Pinna dei Frentani, the Frentani being an ancient Italic tribe which lived in the area, then Penna (peak), and finally Pennapiedimonte.  The name means peak at the foot of the mountain, because of the pointed peak or spire of rock called Cimarocco (photo above right) located in the highest section of the town, the 'balzolo.'  Mention is made of the town in writings from the 1st century A.D., and tombs from the 4th-5th century A.D. were discovered when excavations were done in 1982 to build a tennis court.  Many objects such as a bronze belt, a lance and jewelry were discovered in the tombs and are now at the Museo Archeologico di Chieti. Pennapiedimonte has characteristic narrow streets and flights of steps.  The main street, via Umberto I, has 200 steps leading up to the 'balzolo,' where there is a magnificent panoramic view stretching as far as the hills of Chieti, and on a clear day as far as the Tremiti Islands of the Adriatic Sea.  Because of this view, the town is known as "La Terrazza d'Abruzzo," the terrace of Abruzzo.  In the past Pennapiedimonte was famous for its stone carvers, whose work with local stone can still be seen in the doorways, cornices, capitals and sculptures which adorn the buildings of the town. In the center of the town, in the vicinity of Piazza Umberto I, stands the Torre Romana (photo bottom right), a tower built in the era when ancient 'Pinna"' was one of the fortresses of the Roman-Frentani settlements in this area.  Although the tower has been extensively remodeled, it is nevertheless of interest. The baroque church of San Silvestro and San Rocco (photo, bottom left) was built about 1600 by local stone masons and houses works by the local stone carvers as well as a 16th century altar piece depicting St. Bridget and 18th century paintings of the Neapolitan School depicting the Last Supper and Christ and Mary Magdalen in the House of the Pharisee.  The works preserved in the church come mainly from the old church of San Silvestro which stood on the same spot. To view an Italian website about Pennapiedimonte by Giuseppe Carideo, from which came 3 of the photos above, Click Here.

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