Pescina
Welcome to Pescina: The Municipality in Abruzzo, Italy
Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you about Pescina, a small municipality in Abruzzo, Italy with a population of approximately 3,740. In 2001, it was elevated to the status of a city in Italy thanks to the decree of the President of the Republic.
Physical Geography
Territory
Pescina is located in the eastern part of the Fucino plain along the valley of Giovenco. The northeastern region is part of the Sirente-Velino regional nature park while the southeastern area is within the outer limits of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Pescina borders other municipalities such as Castelvecchio Subequo, Celano, and Collarmele, among others.
Climate
Pescina has a Mediterranean climate as it faces eastward towards Fucino. Temperatures are fairly mild, ranging from 2.5 degrees in January to 22.9 degrees in July. Precipitation is abundant with approximately 820 mm per year, concentrated mainly in autumn, while snow falls in winter.
Origin of the Name
The origin of the name Pescina is uncertain. There are multiple theories but the most reliable ones suggest it derives from the shape of the territory, characterized by a small basin that collects the water from Giovenco river. Alternatively, it could derive from the fishing activity carried out by the inhabitants of Pescina.
History
Origins
Human presence in the territory dates back to the Upper Paleolithic and the Mesolithic. In the 6th century BC, the Italic people of Marsi joined forces with the populations of Umbria-Sabellia. The Marsi people were at the center of numerous historical events, including the "Social War" or "Marsic War," which fought against Rome for rights and citizenship.
The leader of the Marsi and Italic people, Quinto Poppedio Silone, was originally from Valle del Giovenco, and it was him that writer Ignazio Silone took his name from.
Middle Ages
Pescina was part of the county of Marsi under the gastaldato of the Lombards controlled by the Duchy of Spoleto. The monastery of Santa Maria in Apinianico ("S. Maria in Apinianici") in Pescina was presumably chosen as a comital court in addition to the main feudal center of San Benedetto dei Marsi.
Already in the High Middle Ages, Pescina was considered an important religious place. In Pescina, Saint Francis of Assisi founded his Franciscan order, while the Order of Saint Benedict operated in San Benedetto dei Marsi. These two monastic orders were present just a few kilometers away.
In conclusion, Pescina is a municipality with much to discover. With its historical origins and the surrounding natural beauty, this municipality represents a very interesting destination for tourists who want to discover Abruzzo and its beauty.
