Overview
A cradle of poetry and beauty, Guardiagrele is a charming village in the province of Chieti, located in the Maiella National Park.
The "city of stone", narrated by Gabriele d'Annunzio in "The Triumph of Death", is a village with an ancient history: colonized by the Benedictines who erected a monastery on the site, it had its heyday around the 12th century.
The town planning and architecture of the center bear imprinted traces of this past: thousand-year-old towers, churches, old houses and narrow alleys, the village enchants with its tale of medieval atmospheres.
At the heart of Guardiagrele's identity is its craftsmanship: the village saw the birth in past centuries of such prominent figures as Nicola da Guardiagrele, a pupil of Ghiberti.
Still today, with the creations of art and craftsmanship that are made here, among the ancient workshops of wrought iron, ceramics, turned wood, worked copper, lacework, Abruzzo blankets and costumes, worked stone, goldsmith art and jewelry found in the historic centre, it enchants and transports you to a time that seems distant. Guardiagrele is rich in museums to observe and discover local and regional history. The Cathedral Museum, the Costume Museum, the Antonio Cadei Medieval Antiquarium and the Filippo Ferrari Archaeological Museum. A tour of the village should include these four historical testimonies, between religious and secular traditions.
Don’t miss the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built entirely of Maiella stone, with a bell tower built dating from the 13th century and an ogival portal dating from the 15th century. A historical testimony of architecture that completes the beauty of Guardiagrele. As evidence of the rich past, the Vitacolonna Palace, the De Lucia Palace and the Andrea Bafile Shrine are also worth visiting.
You can certainly enjoy delicious nougats, macaroons and marzipan, but the specialty of this village are the nuns' sise, fresh sponge cake pastries filled with cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar. A treat for the eyes and for your palate.
