Overview
Among the overused literary expressions we find that of "the laughing hills". But here in Controguerra, you can see it with your own eyes. The surrounding hills, full of olive trees and vineyards, are really laughing because of their prosperous and vital aspect, which inspires courage, beauty, wealth: the oil and wine, which come out of them, are here a healing elixir, real dishes of course, all to be enjoyed.
With its precious green gold, for the past decade the village of Val Vibrata in the province of Teramo has been a member of the National Association of "Oil Cities", one more reason that pushes the community of local producers to an ongoing commitment in safeguarding quality olive growing.
Try to believe. Have a bruschetta or regular slice of bread prepared with a drizzle of oil. Sit down now on a bench, facing the panorama that the village offers, between the Teramo coast and the chain of the Laga Mountains, and take a bite of your treasure, accompanied by a glass of Controguerra Doc Rosso.
Happiness is on your doorstep.
The village's roots go back to an ancient past. Evidence of this is provided by the numerous archaeological remains found throughout the territory of the municipality: some are collected in a room in the Town Hall, while others are in the Pigorini Museum in Rome and the Florentine Museum of Prehistory in Florence.
From them it can be deduced that its foundation can be traced back to prehistoric and Roman times, although the town experienced its greatest splendor in the Renaissance period.
As you can see, the centre is dominated by the 1370 brick Tower, which stands at the top of a steep rise, controlling the valley of the Tronto and defending the community. It is the only trace of the vanished castle, repeatedly referred to as Corata and equipped with a massive wall, which allowed entry from the current Porta Maggiore or Porta dell'Angelo.
The Tower is connected to the adjacent Ducal Palace, built in 1279 on the remains of Roman buildings, testifying to the rule of the Acquaviva family, dukes of Atri, from the mid-15th century.
Go outside the walls to see the small Chapel of the Icon, which contains a precious fresco from the 1600s, and the 16th-century Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, with a late Baroque wooden, gilded and painted altar and, in the center of the altar, a terracotta high-relief depicting the Madonna with Child, the artwork of a pupil of Silvestro dell'Aquila.
At lunchtime enjoy the products of Teramo's cuisine, which is among the richest and most surprising in the region, such as "timballo", "mazzarelle" and lamb, accompanied by the superb wines of the area: such as, already mentioned, Controguerra Doc Rosso, Controguerra Bianco, Controguerra Novello and Controguerra Passito Rosso.
If, however, you want to discover this territory more in depth from a enogastronomic point of view, the "Wine Route" is for you: it is thirty kilometers of sips and flavors, creeping through the soft hills of the Teramo area, with starting point in Controguerra and four other stops: Torano Nuovo, Ancarano, Corropoli and Colonnella. For an unforgettable stay that will make your head spin.