Pollutri
Pollutri: A Journey through History and Art
Pollutri is a small Italian town located in the province of Chieti, in Abruzzo. With its 2040 inhabitants, it is a place rich in history and art, making it an interesting destination for those who love to travel and discover unique and suggestive sites.
History
The creation of Pollutri is dated back to around 500 AD, although it is likely that there were already some settlements in the area. In 1061, there is news of a Monastery of San Giovanni di Pollutri to which the Count of Borrello, Borrello, son of Odorisio Borrello, donates the Church of SS. Martiri Valentino and Damiano with the Fara (Longobardi) annexed, both located in the territory of the Castle of Borrello at the beginning of the valley of the Sangro river. Other news dates back to the fifteenth century; however, archaeological finds attest to the habitation of the territory already in pre-Roman times. Later it was a fief of the Caldora, then of the Di Capua and the d'Avalos.
Symbols
The coat of arms and flag of the municipality of Pollutri were granted by decree of the President of the Republic of March 3, 1998. The flag is a red cloth.
Monuments and Places of Interest
The fortified village
The village of San Salvatore is located in the highest part of the town and is the heart of the fortified village of the country. The settlement is depicted by Giovan Battista Pacichelli as a flat place surrounded by walls. Two gates were located towards the church of San Rocco, the so-called Porta da Piedi and another towards the church of the Madonna del Piano, the so-called Porta da Capo. So far, it has been impossible to find traces of urban walls due to the buildings attached to the urban circle to the north. However, the village consists of passages, sub-portico, staircases, blind alley that can be roadway solutions rather than, rather, service exits. The facades of the houses were modernized throughout the XVIII century-XIX century; however, in the interiors of the cellar, fondaco, and underground there are materials including sandstone, river pebbles, and brick and construction techniques similar to those of the historic center of Monteodorisio. At Palazzo Mucci, a palace was demolished, whose surviving walls show remnants of ancient walls, niches with hoods, and two arches.
The church of the Santissimo Salvatore
The church of the Santissimo Salvatore is located in Piazza della Chiesa. It was built before 1324-1325 with transformations in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the past, the church had a rectangular plan with a single nave. In 1703 the Abbot Pacichelli illustrated the church with a bell tower spire. The current façade is in neo-romanesque style. The walls are made of bricks. Originally, the entrance was on the right side of the building, in fact, the façade was revamped in the twentieth century. The cladding is from 1972 with the load-bearing structure made of beam. The interior, with three naves separated by columns with barrel vault and lateral chapels, of which the central left chapel dedicated to San Nicola di Bari, patron saint of Pollutri preserves inside a wooden statue of the saint placed above the altar on which there is a fresco from 1926 by the Molisan painter A.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Pollutri is a place worth visiting for its richness in art and history, from the church of the Santissimo Salvatore to the fortified village of San Salvatore. The beauty of the town is further enriched by the beauty of the surrounding countryside, full of vineyards and olive groves, making it an ideal place for a journey to discover the tradition of Abruzzo gastronomy. If you love authentic and charming places, Pollutri is a destination that will not disappoint you.
