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ROCCACASALE

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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

Roccacasale, in the province of L'Aquila, is located on the slopes of Monte della Rocca in the Morrone mountains at an elevation of 1300 feet, overlooking the Peligna Valley; the town has 786 inhabitants.  Rich in water resources, the area was therefore heavily frequented by shepherds and flocks since ancient times. There is much archaeological evidence of prehistoric settlements in the territory of Roccacasale.  And in the area known as Colle delle Fate, at 2200 feet elevation, there was an italic settlement, of which it is possible to see the remains of the walls and the well; the settlement probably dates from 2000 BC.  The town developed as a result of the activities of the monks of the Benedictine monastery of San Clemente a Casauria, who made notable contributions to the socio-economic development in this region through the building of churches, farms and storehouses for the monastery, around which towns grew up.  The first recorded mention of Roccacasale is in 1183, and the town belonged initially - and for a long time - to the Bishop of Valva.  In the 13th century it was the feudal possession of the lords of Collepietro; in the 14th century it belonged to the Cantelmo family, and in the 18th century it belonged to the De Sanctis family.   The old historic center of the town is typically medieval, with the houses ranging up a steep cliff on Mt. Morrone.  The upper part of the town is dominated by the remains of the medieval castle; the buildings around the castle represent the oldest part of the town.  At the foot of the old center are two ancient gates which were the entrances through the surrounding wall of the town.  The parish church, S. Michele Arcangelo, was built in the 15th century but was reworked in the 18th century (see photo, bottom right).  The castle of Roccacasale stands over the town like a sentinel.  It dates back to the 12th century and flourished in the 13th century, full of riches and splendor.  During the invasion by the French in 1799, Roccacasale and its castle played an important role.  The castle served as a base for resistance against the French by the people of the entire area, led by the feudal baron who dwelled there, Giuseppe Maria De Sanctis.  Despite fierce and prolonged fighting on the part of the Italians, the French eventually won.  However, the castle remained the possession of the De Sanctis family for a few years more, until the end of feudalism, very early in the 1800s.  Because of the absolute lack of means and above all because of the hostility and the aversion the people felt toward the feudal system, the walls and facade of the De Sanctis' castle and palazzo were never repaired, and in time fell into ruin.

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