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POPOLI

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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

Popoli, in the province of Pescara, has a population of 5500 and is located on the western side of the Maiella National Park at an elevation of 800 feet, between the valleys of the Pescara, Sagittario and Gizio rivers.  It is famous for its gorges, which are strikingly impressive in winter. Popoli's history has its roots in the Roman era; Julius Cesar described the wooden bridge at Popoli in his book Civil War.  The first certain mention of the founding of the present-day town is in the chronicles of the Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria.  These records, from the period between 970 and 1016 A.D., describe the construction of a castle there, attributed to Tidolfo, Bishop of Valva, and a town that grew up around it.  Popoli was in a very strategic position during the feudal struggles, and it passed through the hands of a series of noble families over the centuries. One of the reminders of its turbulent past is the castle mentioned above, the ruins of which are quite extensive (see photo, center left).  They can be found in a pleasant pine forest reached by a steep path.  The walls, the square tower, the battlements and the embrasures for firearms all tell of its past grandeur. In the old historic center of the town, its original 15th century character has been preserved.  Here, almost everything that exits of Popoli's former splendor is linked to the name of the Cantelmo family, one of the feudal families that possessed the town.  Of particular interest are the 15th century Palazzo Cantelmo (see photo, top right),  and the 14th century Taverna Ducale (see photo, center right).  The latter building was first used for the collection of agricultural products that were paid by the peasant farmers as an annual tithe to the feudal lord.  Later it became an inn and then a hotel, due to the fact that Popoli was a staging-post for coaches, where they could change their horses. In the Piazza della Liberta is the church of San Francesco (see photo, bottom left), built in the 15th century by Restaino di Cantelmo XII, Count of Popoli, to replace the original convent of San Fracesco which had been destroyed by an earthquake.  Nearby, at the top of a flight of stairs, is the early 18th century church of Santa Trinita (see photo, bottom right; the church is at the top of the left flight of stairs).

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Pizzoferrato

Pratola Peligna