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TOCCO DA CASAURIA

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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

Tocco - as it was known before 1861 - is a town of 3,000 inhabitants situated at an elevation of 1100 feet on a foothill of the Maiella mountains, along a ridge overlooking the Pescara Valley.  This was a strategically important location during the middle ages and earlier, because it was a position from which could be controlled the traffic over the Tiburtina Valeriana, an ancient Roman road and the major east-west route across central Italy, running through the Pescara valley.  The name "Tocco" is thought to derive from the town's position, and to mean "village on the cliff."  In 1862, "da Casauria" was added to the name in recognition of the town's proximity to the ancient Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria.  The first recorded mention of a settlement at Tocco is in 872AD. The town actually arose about 1200AD around its two most important structures: the defensive castle built by Federico II between 1187 and 1220 (see photo, middle row left), and the Church of Sant'Eustachio, built in 1208 (see photo, bottom row left).   In the late 13th or early 14th century, while Giovanni De Tortis was the feudal lord, an earthquake destroyed or damaged much of the town.  The churches and houses were rebuilt, and the castle was transformed into a palazzo Ducale (palace of the Duke), occupied thereafter by a series of noble families that possessed Tocco.  In 1706 another violent earthquake again destroyed much of Tocco, and again it was rebuilt. Points of interest in the town include the castle, which originally consisted of four towers linked by an encircling wall and ramparts.  Today it is owned by Francesco Scali Caracciolo, the Duke of Castelluccio; it has been saved from complete decay but the interior is abandoned and the structure is in urgent need of considerable restoration and repair.  Of particular interest in the castle is the 15th century well in the central courtyard, and the gruesome rooms of the prison known as the "Lombarda,"  which was positioned so as never to be reached by the rays of the sun.  On its door, carvings made by the prisoners can clearly be seen.  Surrounding the castle are a number of ancient, narrow and winding streets which are interesting to explore (see last 3 photos, bottom row). The original 13th century church, Sant'Eustachio, has an interesting facade and a splendid set of bronze bells in its belltower.  Restored so many times over the centuries, it retains only a few traces of its 13th century architecture, which include some of the windows and  fragments of stone lions on the wall facing the facade.  The interior was richly decorated in the baroque style following the earthquake of 1706 and contains a 17th - 18th century baptismal font decorated with carvings of vines, leaves and angel heads.  The church contains a large number of altars, many more than is usual. In via D'Annunzio is the interesting church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which has late Renaissance features including a Neapolitan style door.  The 15th century church of San Domenico has a fine Renaissance door and an interesting sturdy belltower.  In the interior of this church is a lovely carved wooden choir and a pulpit from the 18th century.  Visitors to Tocca da Casauria should not miss the birthplace of Francesco Paolo Michetti, Abruzzo's foremost painter, born there in the 19th century.  Today the house is a museum preserving the artist's major works. It is well worth a short walk outside the town to the old convent of the Osservanza, a monastic complex originally built in 1470 and dedicated to the Madonna del Paradiso.  It contains a choir with frescoes done in the 18th century, and beautiful wooden fittings in the church and sacristy.  It preserves some fine religious artworks from various periods, not all of them in good condition.    There is a library with a significant collection of books, ancient and new, about Abruzzo.  On the south-facing wall of the open gallery is a sundial with the inscription: "Transeunt ornnes, ultima necat" ("Every hour passes, the last one kills.") Tocco Da Casauria is widely known for producing the strong Abruzzese liquor called "Centerbe" ("100 herbs"),  made from the herbs of the Maiella mountains and said to be quite beneficial to your digestion.  There are a number of distilleries in the town where the liquor can be purchased direct from the makers. For more information and pictures take a look at friend Mario Iezzoni's website: Toccolani nel Mondo.

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