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Destination

Goriano Sicoli

Through the Iron Age, Greek myths and the Middle Ages

Date:
Reading time:

4 min

Topics
  • Authentic villages
  • Comuni d’Abruzzo
Goriano Sicoli, Ph. Ra Boe / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Descrizione lunga

Do you know Goriano Sicoli? Overlooking the Subequana Valley and surrounded by woods and valleys, the village stands on a hill from which the gaze fades to the horizon and caresses the green landscape.
Passing through one of the three historical entrances – Porta Bagliucci, Porta Baracca and Porta di Murro, all embellished with Gothic arches – you will find yourself immersed in the heart of this characteristic and charming medieval village. 

The first thing you notice is the imposing bell tower, once a sentinel defending the territory. Indeed, together with the pretty parish church, the bell tower rises on what was once the ancient castle. You read that right, an ancient stronghold dating back to the time when the village was a feud of Rainaldo, Count of Celano, back in the 12th century. The village was first mentioned in this period, referred to as Gorianum Siccum in Balba in the Catalogus Boronum. The history of the village and its castle is closely linked to the events of the Celano family until the 15th century, when it became the prerogative of Antonio d'Aragona Piccolomini.

Actually, as attested by the findings of circle tombs discovered on Monte Castelluccio, its origins go back a little further, to the Iron Age. 
The medieval buildings and architecture of the village – protected by the massive walls that are still partly visible – are historical reminders of this. On the remains of the imposing ancient castle stands the Church of Santa Maria Nuova, which has housed a 15th-century polychrome wooden crucifix since 1593. The building is embellished by a Renaissance portal that completes its particular beauty. Portals of this kind, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, also characterise many other buildings in the historical centre.

The Church of San Francesco, formerly dedicated to San Donato, and the Sanctuary of Santa Gemma are particularly enchanting. The former is famous for the stone statue of San Donato Vescovo inside it, in addition to two wooden statues of St. Clare and St. Anthony of Padua, dating back to the 14th century, and two frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, one depicting the Deposition and the other depicting the Risen Christ. The Sanctuary, in the lower part of the village, dates back to the 16th century and is renowned for Patini's 1889 painting and for the presence, inside, of the remains of the patron saint of Goriano Sicoli. The memory of the saint is celebrated in the month of May through an ancient ritual evoking a Greek-Cretan myth of Demeter and Kore, later incorporated into the myths of the agrarian cycles dating between 1400 and 1500. The archaic and particularly evocative ritual involves the entire population. If you have to choose the right time to visit Goriano Sicoli, you can opt for this month and participate in the celebrations.
 
In Piazza della Fontana, you can appreciate the monumental fountain that dominates it. Inaugurated on 28 October 1888, as witnessed by the two commemorative epigraphs engraved on marble slabs, it is enriched by two dolphins resting on seaweed and supporting a medieval shield on the side of which are the Paolucci family coat of arms and the municipal coat of arms. There are also shelves from which to draw water which gushes from the mouths of four lion-shaped masks made of cast iron. On either side of the fountain are two large porticoes, made of white stone, consisting of a row of four bays of round arches. The village is guarded by a special setting: "I Cerri", a huge public forest where you can relax and stroll, a way to regain complete contact with nature which will gently lull and welcome you.

After this wonderful walk suspended between history, art and popular religious traditions, we invite you to sit comfortably and be pampered by the village's culinary tradition. The local cuisine is linked to the past, based on sheep farming and agriculture. We suggest you try sagne, a type of pasta made from water and flour, to be enjoyed with beans, with mutton or with veal and pork sauce and garnished with truffle shavings, of which the surrounding forests are rich. Among the typical products also stands out pecorino cheese that is still produced according to ancient processing techniques and is ideal to accompany with mountain honey.
 

Tag

  • borghi autentici
  • borghi montani
  • Comuni

Location of the Destination

Geolocalizzazione

42.080013538908, 13.773218393326

Last updated

03/10/2023, 14:58

Published by AbruzzoTurismo