Pietranico
Welcome to Pietranico!
Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the small town of Pietranico in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. This wonderful city embraces an ancient and fascinating history. Its origin dates back to the Lombard castle from the end of the 10th century, built as a result of the raids of the Saracens and Normans. The castle was later transformed into a real fortified village, which still preserves its walls on one external side.
But Pietranico is not just history, as it is also known for its architectural and religious beauty. In the upper part of the city is the Parish of San Michele and Santa Giusta, the main church of Pietranico, dating back to the 12th century. The old church, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century, suffered irreparable damage due to earthquakes and was demolished and reconstructed, following the Tuscan and Luccan neo-Romanesque style.
Ancient history of Pietranico
The castle of Pietranico was built on a huge rock of 2000 m<sup>3</sup>, known as the "Pietra di Castello". The toponym "Petra Iniqua" derives from this rock, which means "stone placed on a hill", according to the etymology proposed by the philosopher Don Domenico Tinozzi, who conducted in-depth studies on the history and origin of Pietranico.
The ancient village of Pietranico, built to offer less side to the offense and greater possibility of defense, still preserves its original structure. The houses, arranged in a radial pattern along the slope below the powerful rock, are connected by narrow winding streets, called "rughelle". This radial structure is only interrupted by the Porta della Terra, indicating that Pietranico was a fortified village where access control was very important.
The Parish of San Michele and Santa Giusta
Located in the upper part of Pietranico, the Parish of San Michele and Santa Giusta is the main church of the city. The old church dates back to the 12th century, and was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century. However, after the damage caused by the earthquakes of the 20th century, it was demolished and rebuilt from scratch.
The new church was built in the Tuscan and Luccan neo-Romanesque style, and seems to have various similarities to the Cathedral of Lucca and the church of San Michele in Campo. The church is located in the upper part of the city, built next to the rocky outcrop, where the Lombard castle was located, of which only a cylindrical tower remains.
Conclusions
Pietranico is an ancient and fascinating village, which represents a real architectural and religious wonder of the Abruzzo territory. Its ancient history dates back to the Lombard castle of the 10th century, and is characterized by its radial structure interrupted only by the Porta della Terra.
The Parish of San Michele and Santa Giusta is the main church of Pietranico, and was rebuilt in the Tuscan and Luccan neo-Romanesque style after the earthquakes of the 20th century. This church is located in the upper part of the city, built next to the rocky outcrop where the Lombard castle was located. We are certain that a visit to this wonderful city will leave a lasting impression on visitors.
