Overview
A village with two hearts: here’s Castellalto, in the province of Teramo, straddling the Tordino and Vomano valleys. Indeed, the elegant town enjoys the unusual privilege of having two historic centres: Castellalto (481 metres above sea level) and Castelbasso (326). And in between an articulated series of mountain hamlets.
If you come here on holiday, the first sensation of wellbeing is the landscape and panorama with the splendour of Gran Sasso d'Italia – and the highest peak in central Italy: Corno Grande – and the immense expanse of the Adriatic.
A happy and evocative land, which the Italic peoples did not miss. In the custody of the archaeological superintendency, an Italic bronze statuette depicting Hercules – clad only in a lion skin, datable to the 3rd/2nd century B.C. and found near the Tordino river in Casemolino – speaks of those times.
According to experts, the find can be counted among the culture of the ancient Pretuzi (of Sabine stock) who inhabited the area before the advent of the Romans.
Considering the two “hearts” of the city, the oldest is Castelbasso. It was founded in the 11th century, as attested by the Chronicon Casauriense, with a church and a castle, enlarged in the 15th century according to defence techniques against guns, such as cannons.
At that time, the city walls were also rebuilt with new gates, which you can still admire today. Porta Sud – in Renaissance style and built in brick and hewn stone – is characterised by two arches, one above the other, and the top decorated with battlements. And, Porta Est (also called “della Marina”) which is a defensive tower with a round arch, visible from inside the walls.
The outer door of the village is square and the top of the tower is decorated with Guelph symbols and Aragonese corbels.
Let’s visit the church dedicated to Sts Peter and Andrew, built in 1338 by the monks of St Clement a Casauria, with its elegant 14th-century portal, polychrome pulpit and Baroque paintings. In addition, you can visit the church of St John the Evangelist, originally built by the Normans, it was rebuilt in the 16th century and restored in the 18th century, in Baroque style, with a single-nave interior and parchment-yellow stucco.
If you are in the area during summer, enjoy the contemporary art event, which has enlivened Castelbasso for many years, giving it an international touch.
On the other hand, Castellalto was developed in the 19th century and later became a municipality. Just outside the town centre, you will find the church of S. Maria degli Angeli or Madonna degli Angeli, built in 1580, later modified and restored several times.
The Teramo cuisine classics now await you. “Chitarra con le pallottine”, “mazzarelle”, roast lamb and turkey “alla canzanese”, which is a recipe that was born by chance – like many other national dishes – two hundred years ago when it was realised that the turkey broth prepared the night before turned to jelly, making the meat tastier and more tender.
A real stroke of luck for all of us.
