Bellante
Bellante: a village in Abruzzo
Hello friends, today I will talk about a beautiful village in Abruzzo called Bellante (or ''Bəllində'' in the local dialect). This municipality, with a population of about 6,855, is located in the province of Teramo and is known for its ancient history and historical monuments.
History
Let's start with the history of the village. Bellante became an autonomous municipality in 1860, after Italy's unification. Its strategic location, on the hill south of Teramo, made it a place of great importance since ancient times. In Bellante, you can still admire the remains of its medieval walls, dating back to the 10th century.
Symbols
The coat of arms and flag of the municipality of Bellante were granted by the President of the Republic on 25 February 1985. The coat of arms features a white horse on a red background, with the inscription "Universitas Bellanti". The flag is composed of a green and yellow flag, with the village coat of arms in the center.
Monuments and places of interest
Civic Tower
The Civic Tower of Bellante is a jewel of medieval architecture. This tower has taken on the dual function of civic tower and bell tower of the Church of Santa Croce and Santa Maria della Misericordia. At its summit, an imposing weather vane with the initials of the four cardinal points stands out, and on the sides, the symbol of the cross and the coat of arms of the village, with the inscription "Universitas Bellanti". It is said that the tower was built during the reign of Frederick II of Swabia, in the 13th century.
Church of Santa Croce
The Church of Santa Croce is the main place of worship in Bellante and is located in the main square of the village. This church has a brick facade characterized by the overlap of several construction interventions from different eras. The stone portal from the first half of the 16th century is Renaissance in style, and above it, a walled rose window and a large window, the result of architectural interventions at the end of the 18th century. The interior, in rococo style, is decorated with stuccoes and has a single nave covered by a barrel vault that ends with an apse at the top of which the sculptural group of the exaltation of the cross dominates. The church also houses three valuable 16th-century paintings, including the Adoration of the Magi, the Crucifixion, the Madonna of the Angels, and the Madonna of the Rosary.
Chapel of Santa Maria della Misericordia
The Chapel of Santa Maria della Misericordia, adjoining the Church of Santa Croce, is another very important place of worship in Bellante. Inside it, there is the statue of the Madonna della Misericordia, dating back to the 16th century. It is said that this sculpture was commissioned by the noble Giovanna d'Aragona as an ex-voto to the Madonna for having freed the village from the scourge of cholera. The polychrome terracotta statue represents the Virgin sitting on a throne with the baby Jesus.
In conclusion, the village of Bellante is truly a unique place, and it is an unforgettable experience to explore all its historical beauties. I hope you enjoyed this summary and that you feel like visiting this charming municipality in the province of Teramo. See you next time!
