Collarmele
Welcome to Collarmele!
Hello friends, today I'll take you on a journey to discover a beautiful town in Italy: Collarmele. Located in the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo, the town has about 800 inhabitants and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, including the Sirente-Velino which reaches an altitude of 1500 meters.
The geography of Collarmele
Collarmele is situated in a truly strategic position, between the Rimagi, Coppetella, and Ventrino mountains. It is nestled in the region of the Sirente-Velino regional natural park and marks the northeast border between the Marsica and the Subequana valley. To access it, you can pass through the Forca Caruso pass, which is located at an altitude of 1107 meters.
The origins of the name Collarmele
The toponym of Collarmele would derive from the words "Collis", which refers to the geomorphological conformation of the territory, and "Armellus" or "Armelius", which indicated two distinct villages. According to legend, the name may be linked to the figure of Marsia, the god of Greek mythology and the namesake river in Lydia, who is said to have founded some of the Marsican towns.
The history of Collarmele
The history of Collarmele is closely linked to the historical events of the Marsica and the ancient city was called Cerfennia. Its boundaries were very vast and also included the Forca Caruso pass and the ancient mountain Imeo, up to the Forca d'Acero, in the contemporary area of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
In the Middle Ages, Collarmele was part of the county of Celano and, in 1806, was attached to Pescina and then to Cerchio. It was only in 1816 that the town gained administrative autonomy. In 1915, the Marsica earthquake almost completely destroyed the ancient village.
must-see places in Collarmele
If you decide to visit Collarmele, I recommend taking a walk to discover its treasures.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
One of the main attractions of the town is undoubtedly the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located to the north of the town and along the Celano-Foggia Transhumance route. The fifteenth-century façade is embellished in the upper part by the polychrome Renaissance Art ceramics made by Bernardino de' Gentili of Anversa degli Abruzzi.
Conclusions
Collarmele is a small gem in the heart of Abruzzo, surrounded by the mountains of Sirente-Velino. The town boasts a long and suggestive history that can still be admired thanks to the remains of the ancient village and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. If you're looking for an escape from the frenzy of the city, I recommend visiting it and letting yourself be conquered by its beauty.
