Overview
An illustrative guide to Cepagatti, in the province of Pescara, is unnecessary. Its walls tell the story of the community, just 7 kilometres from Chieti, among expanses of wheat and olive trees.
To your eyes, many frescoes unfold among paved alleys and slarghi, mostly depicting scenes of past life, immortalized on walls and house facades, based on a historical and legendary itinerary, which takes you on a journey of discovery through the Abruzzo village.
They were created by a local painter, now deceased, who with her pupils depicted village history, giving artistic value and great originality to the village, which is a member of the Italian Association of Painted Villages.
At the centre of the murals, which are recurrently restored, you find the noblewoman Antonia Profeta, who, in Lombard times, married Marquis Filippo Valignani of Chieti. In fact, Cepagatti is believed to have drawn its origins from that era and has been spoken of since 1147. There may be a trace of this, a large tower called "Torre Alex", which rises in the square, the last reminder of an ancient manor, Castello Marcantonio, now converted into a restaurant.
Actually, the history of Cepagatti is much older: the discovery of fragments of opus reticolatum, terracotta doli, cisterns and the remains of a villa testify to the Roman presence on site.
Other murals appear between the walls recounting the typical activities that have characterized life in Abruzzo's villages for centuries, with artisans in action, including bakers blacksmiths, farmers.
Do you want to know where the hamlet's strange name comes from? According to some theories, it may derive from "you pay us", since the castle was a crossing point where you had to shell out some sort of toll (remember the unforgettable movie "Non ci resta che piangere?" with the "customs" scene that cost a florin?).
Visit the small municipal Pinacoteca with a collection of works by contemporary Italian artists donated by the authors, on the occasion of the exhibition "Raffaele d'Ortenzio: contemporaneity of memory".
Also admire the neoclassical Church of Santa Lucia, dating from the 18th century, with a portal surmounted by a rose window in Maiella stone, a bell tower housing bronze and gold bells, and inside, the most valuable work, a canvas depicting San Rocco painted by painter Francesco De Benedictis in 1830.
Pasta alla mugnaia, ravioli, arrosticini, barbecued meat and pecorino cheese will brighten your lunch of the most delicious local traditions.
What else to see:
- The Chapel of San Rocco
- The church of San Nicola di Bari
- The earthen houses, in the hamlet of Villareia
