Abbateggio
Exploring Abbateggio: a small town in Abruzzo
Hello everyone! Today I will be talking about the small Abruzzo town of Abbateggio, located in the province of Pescara. This town has only 354 inhabitants, but it has a long and interesting history. Join me as we discover this enchanting place!
Abbateggio: its physical geography
Abbateggio is situated on a hill on the left bank of the Lavino stream, a tributary of the Aterno-Pescara river. Its hillside location makes it a beautiful place with a spectacular view of the Majella Mountains.
History of Abbateggio
Abbateggio's origins are linked to the foundation of the Abbey of San Clemente in Casauria by Emperor Louis II the Younger in 866, in the district of Casauria, an island that no longer exists in the middle of the Pescara river. The first certain historical news about the foundation of the Castle dates back to 986, when the nobleman from Penne, Tresidio di Ota, had it built and donated it to Abbot Casauriense Adam.
Throughout its history, Abbateggio has had several Lords and feudal lords, including the Trogisio family and the Orsini family. It was then given as a dowry by Margherita of Austria to Duke Alessandro de' Medici and later to her second husband Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza. The town belonged to the Farnese family until the last exponent of the family, Queen of Spain Elisabetta Farnese, passed it on to her son, Charles III of Spain, who in 1735 became king of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies: Abbateggio became part of the royal demesne.
Abbateggio also suffered the consequences of the Neapolitan Republic in 1799, when many citizens joined the band of banditry led by the Order of Friars Minor Giacomo da Villa Santa Maria; they later committed violence and looting in Manoppello.
Symbols of Abbateggio
The flag of Abbateggio is a banner divided into blue and red.
This is only a summary of Abbateggio's history, but the town has many other interesting stories worth discovering. If you visit Abruzzo, be sure to include Abbateggio in your itinerary!
