Musellaro

Musellaro: the story of an Abruzzo village

Musellaro is a village located in the municipality of Bolognano, in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. Its history dates back to ancient times and is closely linked to that of the municipality of Bolognano. The Grotta dei Piccioni is an important sign of prehistoric presence in the area, while in proto-historic times the territory belonged to the Marrucini. Later, it became a Roman colony. In the high medieval period, Musellaro was a castle of the Abbey of San Clemente in Casauria with the toponym Mosellolo. After the Saracen invasion of the 10th century, the village was restored to the Abbot of the restored Monastery. In 1111, the brothers Dodone, Oderisio, and Gerardo became lords of the castle of Mosellola. Later, it became a barony with a vassal of the lords of the place. The most famous baron was Tiburzio Tuzio who, in 1213, donated a part of his castle to build the current church.

The church and the deeds of the crucifix in Musellaro

The church of Musellaro is one of the most important places in the village. At first, there was a chapel outside the walls dedicated to San Nicola, but it was often looted. Later, a crucifix and a painting on canvas of Santa Maria, which came from the Holy Land, appeared in the hamlet, attracting many pilgrims. They were donated by the count of Balzo, of the Presenzano line. Thanks to a papal bull by Gregory X, it is known that there was a Benedictine monastery near the district called San Cleto di Musellaro. The church of Musellaro has also been the scene of the deeds of the crucifix, which participated in both world wars. The monument in Genio square to the fallen of the two world wars indicates the participation of the people of Musellaro in the two conflicts. Raffaele Salvio holds the highest rank of the fallen of the First World War, having been promoted to Sergeant Major. In the part dedicated to the fallen of the Second World War, more Musellaro residents were decorated with the Silver Medal for Military Valor.

Musellaro, the historical gem of Abruzzo.

Musellaro over the centuries

Over the centuries, Musellaro was under the dominion of the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, to which it was closely linked. In 1928, the Municipality of Musellaro was merged with the current Municipality of Bolognano. Today, Musellaro is one of the most beautiful hamlets in Abruzzo, with its historic center, the Church of Santa Maria del Balzo, and the Castle of Musellaro. The hamlet is a perfect place for a day trip, especially for those who love Italian history and culture.

Image gallery of Musellaro

The image gallery of Musellaro allows us to admire some of the beauties of the hamlet. Among the images, we can see the Church of Santa Maria del Balzo, the historic center of Musellaro, and the hamlet in general. What strikes most about the images is the beauty and authenticity of Musellaro, a hamlet that seems to have remained unchanged over time.

Conclusions: Musellaro, a place to discover

In conclusion, Musellaro is an Abruzzo hamlet full of history and natural beauties. Its history dates back to ancient times, and this can be seen in the castle and the Church of Santa Maria del Balzo. The image gallery allows us to admire the beauty of Musellaro, a hamlet that seems to have remained unchanged over time. If you want to discover the beauties of Musellaro, do not hesitate to organize a day trip to the splendid region of Abruzzo.

Andrea Giordano
Updated Friday, Oct 14, 2022