Demolition

The story

in the 12th century in the Chronicon Casauriense . At that time, this area was dominated by the Normans, and it was likely they who gave the village its name, which may derive from the French ab(b)ateis, a term indicating the act of felling or a recently felled forest.

The village of Abbateggio, in any case, existed before it appeared in written sources. It is thought that its foundation may be linked to the monastery of San Clemente, established in 871 in Casauria.

The historical events of this village are linked to the names of several families who held it as fiefdoms, including the De Balzos and the Acquavivas. In 1731, the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was entrusted to Charles III of Bourbon, and the village of Abbatereggio returned to the Kingdom of Naples, to which it remained loyal for a long time. In 1799, the people of Abbateggio and other nearby villages took to the streets to fight against the French of the Parthenopean Republic, in favor of the Restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. The French managed to prevail and defeated the insurgents at Manopello.

The ravines of the Majella, on whose slopes Abbateggio lies, served as a refuge for the Brigands during the period of Italian unification. Many in this village expressed dissatisfaction with the undertaking of Italian unification and joined the Banda della Majella, a group of brigands that operated in the Abruzzo Apennine massif.

During the years of fascism, Mussolini promoted an administrative reorganization and in this context, in 1929, Abbateggio was abolished as an independent municipality, returning to this status only in 1947.

Church of San Lorenzo Martire

Saint Lawrence is the patron saint of Abbateggio, and the church in the historic center of the village is named after him. It has a single nave and a rectangular plan.

The exterior façade is classical, with a 15th-century-style portal and a square bell tower. The bell tower houses a spiral staircase made of local stone, a true gem of craftsmanship.

The interior spaces are punctuated by rectangular semi-columns and characterized by a late Baroque style, particularly evident in the decorations. The church is rich in rose windows and stucco, which popular tradition attributes to the Ticino stucco artist Pietro Francesco Canturio, who worked in central Italy in the second half of the 18th century. Also of particular note are the stone holy water font and the wooden statue of Saint Lawrence.

 Church of the Madonna dell'Elcina

This place of worship is linked to an ancient story of miracles and apparitions. It is said that one day two mute shepherds were grazing sheep on the Elcina hill when they suddenly saw a woman and a painting of the Madonna holding the baby Jesus under a holm oak tree. The woman asked the shepherds for a church on the hill, repeating the request three times. On the third occasion, the shepherds ran into town and, upon reaching home, reported what they had seen, speaking for the first time. The mother, overcome with enthusiasm, alerted the neighbors and the entire village. Many flocked with the shepherds to the site of the apparition. After a consultation, it was decided to take the painting and bring it to the church of San Lorenzo, but the following day the canvas was found again at the foot of the tree, on the hill. This repeated itself for two more days, until everyone understood that the Madonna was clearly requesting the construction of a place of worship on that spot.

The church of the Madonna dell'Elcina that can be seen today dates back to 1927, built on the same site as the ancient sanctuary. Inside, beneath the altar, lies the remains of a holm oak tree, believed to be the ancient tree at the foot of which the Virgin Mary appeared. The church also houses a painted terracotta statue of the Madonna dell'Elcina. During its restoration, a painting depicting the Madonna holding the baby Jesus was discovered behind it. The painting likely dates to the 17th century, and although it is inconsistent with the year the Virgin Mary appeared, it is believed by the locals to be the canvas found under the holm oak by the shepherds.

Paleolithic Site of Valle Giumentina and Paleolithic Ecomuseum

Between 1954 and 1955, Professor AM Radmilli and his team of scholars from the University of Pisa began an in-depth study of a portion of the Giumentina Valley, which turned out to be one of the most important archaeological areas in Abruzzo.

Thanks to studies conducted in those years, the presence of a lake in ancient times was highlighted, which dried up approximately 50,000 years ago. Groups of people settled around this body of water for a period between 500,000 and 40,000 years ago. This period was characterized by significant climatic fluctuations; prehistoric humans during those years experienced two glaciations and their corresponding interludes. From the studies conducted, it was possible to deduce how these groups adapted to the varying temperatures, alternating between various types of flora and different prehistoric technologies.

The excavations also highlighted the activity of big game hunting, especially of animals such as bears and deer, although the remains found are few.

Today it can certainly be argued that this area of ​​the Giumentina Valley was inhabited throughout the Lower and Middle Paleolithic, and this theory is supported by the stone finds, worked with a particular technique.

In September 2012, a group of scholars resumed an in-depth study of the area.

On September 8, 2013, the Paleolithic Ecomuseum was inaugurated in the Giumentina Valley, opposite the archaeological site.

Through the reproduction of typical Abruzzo agricultural and pastoral architecture and the use of illustrative panels, the ecomuseum aims to guide visitors through a world that disappeared millennia ago. The tour illustrates typical dry-stone huts, as well as the activities and daily life of Neanderthals.

The ecomuseum also includes an experimental archaeology laboratory.

Archaeological complex of Sant'Agata.

In the Sant'Agata district, there is an archaeological complex linked to an ancient place of worship. A medieval church once stood here, of which only the votive altar remains today. Women would go on pilgrimages and bathe their breasts with water from the nearby spring. This ancient propitiatory rite, linked to fertility and abundance, can be traced back to the ancient deity of fertility of Italic-Roman origin.

Over the years, the place of worship fell into disrepair; by 1629, the church was recorded as having been destroyed. However, the female ritual, which took place on a particularly venerated altar, did not cease.

Thanks to some archaeological excavations, the remains of the church have been brought to light and it has been demonstrated that an even more ancient place of worship existed here.

National Prize for Naturalistic Literature "Parco Majella"

Since 1998, Abbateggio has hosted the “Parco Majella” literary prize, a literary competition that has grown year after year and features the participation of important names in literature, such as writer Dacia Maraini and Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo.

The competition is open to writers, both professional and amateur, and to Italian and foreign journalists. It is divided into several sections, which typically include published and unpublished fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

The competition announcement is published in January and the texts are submitted to the judgement of expert teachers, journalists, scholars and members of particularly important environmental associations.

The final evening is held in July, with the award ceremony for the winners.

Farro Festival

Since 1992, Abbateggio has celebrated the patron saint on the night of San Lorenzo and honored the village's most important product: spelt.

Until a few decades ago, spelt seeds belonged only to ancient farming families in Abbateggio. Thanks to an intuition by the local Pro Loco, they have been put online.

In Abbateggio, the focus is on a local product to promote a healthy diet, based on regular consumption of fiber and spelt, a grain rich in beneficial properties.

The traditional Farro Festival is held on August 10th, an opportunity to sample a variety of spelt-based products. The desserts, prepared by expert pastry chefs, are not to be missed.

Abbateggio Farro Salad

Salads are a summer favorite because they're fresh and can be prepared in so many ways. One such recipe is with farro, ideally a variety grown in the Abbateggio area.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of Abbateggio Farro;
• two kilos of pear tomatoes;
• three red peppers;
• two aubergines;
• four courgettes;
• 250 g of green beans;
• 100 g of peeled and toasted almonds;
• 150g of pecorino or goat cheese;
• 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil;
• A bunch of basil;
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt, and cook the farro for about thirty minutes. Drain, rinse quickly with cold water, and then let it cool.

In another pan, bring the water to a boil again, add salt, and add the green beans. Once cooked, drain them, let them cool, and chop them into small pieces. Halve the tomatoes, add salt and a drizzle of oil, and cook for about half an hour. Once cooked, carefully peel them and chop them into smaller pieces.

Wash the courgettes and aubergines, slice them and grill them.

Wash and dry the peppers, then arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F), turning occasionally. Once cooked, remove them from the oven and cover with plastic wrap. Finally, peel and chop them.

Wash and dry the basil. Using a blender, prepare the almond pesto by first blending the basil and then adding the toasted almonds with 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil.

Arrange all the cooled vegetables in a large bowl and season with the almond pesto. Finally, add the farro and garnish with grated cheese.