Overview
Among the villages and ancient "speaking" stones in the province of Teramo, Castilenti, which stretches along a ridge on the Fino River, near the border with the territory of Pescara, is worth a visit.
Its settlement, its history, its origins are ancient, very ancient.
Its ancestral roots are probably hidden in the locality of Casabianca, evidenced by traces of Italic settlements, such as a burial with a funerary outfit equipped with an iron sword, a bowl and a jug with a bronze handle.
The Roman soul of the settlement lies instead in that "Castrum Lentuli", perhaps a Roman encampment that later became a real urban agglomeration.
About those times, they tell of a Roman necropolis, discovered on the nearby Colle San Pietro, where a milestone was also found, datable between 367 and 375 A.D., along the connecting road between Atri and Penne. It has an inscription mentioning the emperors Valente, Valentinian and Gratianus.
Other vestiges have appeared at Fonte Pisciarello, with the remains of a Roman villa, and pieces of various buildings in the hamlets of Fano, San Savino, Colle Marciano, Santa Croce and Colle Pulciano.
In medieval times, the town was disputed among various noble families, the most important the Acquaviva, until it became the domain of the De Sterlich marquises, who built a palace there on the remains of a fort.
You can still admire it today with the mother church of Santa Vittoria, of which there are traces as far back as the 14th century and restored in the late 18th century.
Just outside the town you will find the "Old Fountain", dating back to the 16th century, with a central mask and two snakes, winding around a trident, symbol of the sea god Poseidon.
Not far away, also reach the 14th-century churches of San Pietro and Santa Croce for a visit.
The exploration of the area continues with an acquaintance with the ancient convent of Monte Uliveto with the adjoining church of Santa Maria, dating from the late 1500s and built by the nobles of Castilenti.
The religious monument has a fine painted wooden roof, and on the walls shine frescoes by Sebastiano Majewsky, the Polish artist who moved to Abruzzo around 1620 and settled in Teramo.
Outdoors, you admire an atrium formed by three large round arches with a portal decorated by a frescoed lunette.
At lunch, you are spoiled for choice among the province's famous dishes, such as maccheroni alla chitarra, seasoned mostly with the classic meatball sauce, or with three meats, or with tomato and basil, with mushrooms and truffles, and even with seafood.
It is considered the Abruzzese first course par excellence.