Ancarano
Welcome to Ancarano: history, geography and origin of the name of the Abruzzo municipality
Hello everyone, today we will talk about Ancarano, an Italian municipality of about 1868 inhabitants located in the province of Teramo, in Abruzzo. We will discover its geographical position and its history, as well as the origin of its name.
Physical geography
The municipality of Ancarano is located in the beautiful Val Vibrata, on the south side of the Tronto River. The village is situated on a hill and offers an extraordinary view of the middle valley of the Tronto.
Ancarano borders to the north with Ascoli Piceno, Colli del Tronto and Spinetoli, to the east with Controguerra and Torano Nuovo, to the south with Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata and Torano Nuovo, and to the west always with Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata. The territory of Ancarano is classified as "Zone 2" for medium seismicity and "Zone D" for the climatic classification of Italian municipalities.
Origin of the name
The name of the village derives from the Latin "Anc(h) arius", to which the suffix "anus" was added. According to the historian Sebastiano Andreantonelli, the name could be related to Ancaria, a deity worshipped in Ascoli Piceno and who would have had a temple in Ancarano. However, there is also a similar toponym in the area of Fabro, in Umbria, which could have a different origin. Nevertheless, the origin of the name could be linked to the Etruscan-Picene goddess Ancaria.
History
Origins
According to the ancient historians Panfilo Serafini, Giamberardino Delfico and Niccola Palma, the area of Ancarano would have been inhabited since the 1st millennium BC by the Pelasgians, then by the Picenes and Etruscans in the 8th-6th century BC. The area was characterized by the presence of Neolithic tombs, whose contents are preserved in the archaeological museum in Campli. Thanks to this imported material, obtained through commercial exchanges along the Adriatic, local populations also traded with the Etruscans.
Middle Ages and Papal State
The ancient village of Ancarano, which stood where the medieval village and the large temple dedicated to the goddess Ancara are today, was destroyed both by the Saracen hordes in the 9th century and by the army of Charlemagne, who came to repress the Lombards. Later, the village was rebuilt as a castle and donated by Charlemagne himself to the bishop of Ascoli Piceno. This village thus became the summer residence of the Ascoli bishop.
Conclusion
Here is the history, geographical position, and origin of the name of Ancarano, an Abruzzo municipality with ancient origins and a history rich in events. If you are planning a trip to Abruzzo, we recommend visiting the medieval village of Ancarano to admire the beauty of the Val Vibrata and enjoy an extraordinary view of the middle valley of the Tronto. Happy journey!
