Penna Sant'Andrea
Discovering Penne Sant'Andrea
Penne Sant'Andrea is a small town in the province of Teramo, in Abruzzo. The town is also known as "La Pònnë" in Abruzzese dialect and is characterized by the presence of the Castel Cerreto Controlled Natural Reserve, which covers an area of about 70 hectares.
The history of Penne dates back to the VIII-IX century, when the castrum called "Pinna" was founded on the hill where the city now stands. Over the centuries, the town has undergone various modifications and vicissitudes, but has maintained its ancient charm.
The History of Penne
Archaeological Discoveries
In 1974, at Monte Giove, archaeological finds were made that brought to light an Italic-Roman necropolis. The artifacts discovered, which date back from the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE, include women's grooming objects and ornaments, such as Phoenician-Punic glass heads, representing a uniqueness in the central-southern Italian panorama.
In addition to the funerary objects, three narrow and elongated local stone steles with engraved eyes and mouth were found, which constitute important acquisitions for the knowledge of the Piceno-Italic landscape of the 5th century BCE.
From Founding to Today
The castrum of Pinna was founded in the VIII-IX century by the Lombards. Over the centuries, the town passed under the rule of the Acquaviva dukes of Atri and then to various feudal lords. In 1814, the city participated in the anti-French insurrection, but the coup failed. Some insurgents were captured and executed, while others fled to the State of the Church.
Monuments of Penne
Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso
The Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso was rebuilt in the sixteenth century and has a rectangular single-nave plan with columns and arches on the eight internal altars. The gabled façade ends at the top like a rounded arch. The bell tower is a tower, but there is also a second tower with a clock and a sail-like bell chamber.
The Baroque interior has an access staircase that leads to the raised level, because the church, being located at the top of the hill, has undergone interventions for ground displacement. The main altar has a seventeenth-century painting dedicated to Santa Giusta.
Church of the Holy Trinity
The church was rebuilt on the remains of a medieval temple, now destroyed or in ruins.
Castel Cerreto Controlled Natural Reserve
The Castel Cerreto Controlled Natural Reserve is a protected area that covers an area of about 70 hectares on the territory of Penne Sant'Andrea. The reserve hosts a flora and fauna that are still pristine, making it an ideal place for nature lovers and outdoor activities.
In summary, Penne Sant'Andrea is a town rich in history and monuments, immersed in the pristine nature of the Castel Cerreto Controlled Natural Reserve. Those who visit Penne cannot miss the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso and the Church of the Holy Trinity, two jewels of ancient architecture that recount the history of the town.
