Bomba
Bomba: the origin of the name and its curiosity
Bomba is a small but charming municipality in Abruzzo. The town, which has only 721 inhabitants, owes its name to a curious origin. In fact, according to some scholars, the toponym comes from Latin, precisely from an onomatopoeic term that indicated the strong and continuous noise of a waterfall near the village. Others instead argue that the term "bomba" derives from the Calabrian dialect "mbumba", which means "drink", or from the onomatopoeia "bumba", closely related to childhood.
In any case, Bomba is also famous for having given birth to a widely used expression in Italy: "let's go back to Bomba". This expression would have been used for the first time by Silvio Spaventa, the famous Italian patriot, during his parliamentary speech. Spaventa, born in Bomba in 1822, would have pronounced this motto to draw the attention of his interlocutors back to the speech he was delivering. In reality, the expression "let's go back to Bomba" existed already for a long time and referred to a very popular medieval game, hide and seek, that the inhabitants of the village loved to play.
The history of Bomba
The history of Bomba dates back to the 12th century when the village was mentioned in the documents of the Diocesan Curia of Chieti concerning ecclesiastical taxes. In the 13th century, the village was donated by Charles I of Anjou to Ranulfo of Courtenay. In the 16th century, Bomba had 121 hearths (approximately 600 inhabitants) and was governed by a French feudal lord named Giovanni Maria Annechino. After his defeat against the Spaniards, the fiefdom changed hands and was purchased by various noble families.
In 1866, Bomba had 4 representatives in the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy. Among these, there were the brothers Bertrando and Silvio Spaventa, two famous Italian patriots and intellectuals known for their deeds in the Risorgimento. Silvio Spaventa, born and raised in Bomba, was also the one who first used the expression "let's go back to Bomba" during a parliamentary speech.
During the 20th century, Bomba was modernized with the construction of aqueducts for water supply and electric lighting in 1908.
Discovering Bomba
Despite its very ancient history, Bomba is a very modern and lively village. There are numerous attractions worth visiting, including the Church of San Cristoforo, built in the 16th century, the Municipal Library "Silvio Spaventa", which houses many literary works and historical documents, and the Museum "Civico D'Arte Contemporanea".
Moreover, Bomba is an excellent starting point for naturalistic excursions and to discover the flora and fauna of Abruzzo. The Majella National Park, which is located a few kilometers from the village, is a paradise for nature lovers and offers a great variety of plants and animals.
Finally, Bomba is also famous for its delicious and genuine cuisine. Among the most famous dishes of the village are the "sagne 'ncannulate", a fresh pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, and the "pigne e fagioli", a dish based on beans and sausage flavored with pine cones.
Conclusions
Bomba is a charming village that combines its long and interesting history with the comforts of the modern world. Its delicious cuisine, natural beauties, and cultural attractions make it an excellent destination for all those who want to discover Abruzzo and its millennial history. If you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to visit this little gem of Central Italy and taste the delicacies of its traditional cuisine.
