Chieuti
Chieuti: the "Gateway to Puglia"
Hello friends! Today I’m going to talk about Chieuti, a town in the province of Foggia, in Puglia, with a population of approximately 1530 inhabitants. The town is famous for being the "Gateway to Puglia" as it is the first Puglian town you cross when coming from the north.
Physical Geography
Chieuti is located on a hill 221 meters above sea level, near the Adriatic Sea, with the characteristic of being bordered to the north by the Saccione stream and to the south by the Fortore river. The seaside town of Marina di Chieuti, with its long sandy beaches, is a very popular tourist destination.
History
The Chieuti territory includes the area where the ancient city of Cliternia Frentana, destroyed by the Goths in 495 AD, stood. Chieuti is one of the two Arbëreshë towns of the province of Foggia, the other being Casalvecchio di Puglia. They were founded in the 15th century, between 1461 and 1470, by Albanian immigrants, welcomed by the Aragonese sovereigns of the Kingdom of Naples thanks to the fraternal relationships that bound them to the valorous leader George Castriot Skanderbeg. With the invasion of Greece by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, many Arbëreshë were forced to emigrate to the islands that were under the Serene Republic and in southern Italy.
The Arbëreshë towns have preserved their ancient customs and language and have found a very strong connection with Kosovo, another stronghold of ancient Albanian culture. Albanian presence can still be noticed today in the local language and culture. In the past, Chieuti was a fief of the Carafa, Guevara, Gonzaga, d'Avalos, and Maresca families.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Chieuti offers numerous monuments and places of interest for those who visit the town. Among these, there is the deconsecrated church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the historic center. Moreover, the Catholic church of San Giorgio Martire was built in honor of George Castriot Scanderbeg in the 16th century. Inside, you can admire a canvas depicting Saint George and the dragon by Alessio D'Elia, dated around 1740. The church also preserves a canvas depicting the Madonna del Carmine who gives the scapular to the souls of Purgatory, also attributable to the production of D'Elia and almost certainly made at the same time as the San Giorgio. Among the church's furnishings, there is a artifact depicting the Madonna and Child, attributable to the works of Paolo Saverio di Zinno (1718-1781), a sculptor from Molise very active in Capitanata.
Tradition
One of the most awaited events by the people of Chieuti is the race of carts pulled by oxen, known as "la Carrese". This event takes place in honor of the patron saint, San Giorgio Martire on April 23 and is a moment of great fun and participation by the inhabitants of the town.
In short, Chieuti is a beautiful place that offers culture, tradition, and sea. If you are in this area, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit this enchanting place. See you in Chieuti!
