Poggio Picenze
Welcome to Poggio Picenze: History and Physical Geography
Welcome to Poggio Picenze, a small town in the province of L'Aquila with a population of about one thousand people. The town is located on the Appennino Abruzzese e Appulo Sannitico of the Abruzzo Apennines, about 14 km from L'Aquila, on a hill at an altitude of 756 m above sea level, offering a wide view of the Aquilan basin.
Poggio Picenze is situated in a privileged position overlooking the Abruzzo Apennines. The town underwent extensive reconstruction after the earthquake of October 6, 1762, and was one of the municipalities most affected by the Aquila earthquake of 2009. The main street of the town, Via Umberto I, was reopened to traffic in March 2012, although most of the houses are uninhabitable.
History of Poggio Picenze
The name Poggio Picenze comes from a Piceni hill fort near Monte Picenze (III century BC), later composed of several villages, of which only a control tower from the tenth century remains. The primitive village of Picenze Alta included the villages of Petogna and San Martino, now part of the municipality of Barisciano.
The current Poggio Picenze was established around the twelfth century, during the period of castellation in Abruzzo, as evidenced by a document from 1173 calling it "Podium de Picentia." In 1254, it participated in the foundation of L'Aquila along with other castles, occupying a part of the fourth of Santa Maria, of which the church of Santa Maria di Picenze still exists, near Via Costa Picenze.
For its loyalty to L'Aquila, along with the 98 castles, Poggio was attacked by Braccio da Montone in 1423 in the context of the war of Angevin vs. Aragonese succession, and the castle was seriously damaged. Under Spanish rule in the seventeenth century, Poggio Picenze detached itself from the Aquilan territory, falling under the control of Giacomo dei Leognani. It then passed as a marquessate fief to the Alfieri of L'Aquila and, later, due to the marriage between Rinaldo II and Margherita Alfieri and a subsequent claim with his brother-in-law, the De Sterlich, who lived between Chieti and Cermignano at the time, appropriated the fiefdom in 1762. In 1806, it entered the newly-founded district of Barisciano, and in 1832, part of the old elliptical castle dominating the village was partly demolished due to the risk of collapse. In 1927, it became part of the province of L'Aquila.
Earthquake of April 6, 2009
Poggio Picenze was severely damaged following the L'Aquila earthquake of 2009, rendering much of the town uninhabitable, especially the two historic areas of the Castle and Via Umberto I. Additionally, five people died in the collapses caused by the seismic event, three of whom were minors.
It is also important to mention the support that the town received from the external community. For example, the citizens of Sambucetole, a hamlet of Amelia (Italy) (TR), decided to donate the proceeds from the 2009 threshing festival to the people of Poggio Picenze affected by the earthquake.
Monuments and Places of Interest
In the territory of Poggio Picenze, there are deposits of white sculpture stone; thanks to this resource and the work of Poggio sculptor masters, the town is embellished with fountains and monuments in white stone.
If you visit Poggio Picenze, I recommend that you admire the church of Santa Maria di Picenze, which dates back to the thirteenth century and is located near Via Costa Picenze. In the past, this church was part of the fourth of Santa Maria dell'Aquila and was one of the first places of worship in the town. The interior is very suggestive and houses some works of considerable interest.
You can also visit the Castle Tower, which is located in the historic center of the town on the Remenno Hill. This control tower dates back to the tenth century and stands on a hill dominating the village below. Unfortunately, the tower was damaged by the earthquake of 2009.
In conclusion, Poggio Picenze is a small town rich in history and monuments to visit. Despite the difficulties caused by the earthquake, the inhabitants are resilient and fighting to maintain the identity of their town. Come and discover Poggio Picenze, and you will be enchanted by the charm of this enchanted place.
