Roccamontepiano
Discovering Roccamontepiano: an Abruzzo municipality among mountains and hills
Hello friends, today I'll tell you about Roccamontepiano, a charming municipality with around 2,000 inhabitants located in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. Its name, "La Ròcchë" in Abruzzese dialect, refers to the Lombard Castle that once defended the eastern side of Maiella and, despite being destroyed by landslides in 1765, still remains part of the historical memory of the area.
Physical geography of Roccamontepiano
Roccamontepiano covers an area of about 18.22km² and is located at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. Its territory stretches between the mountains and hills of the northeastern foothills of the Maiella massif, belongs to the Maielletta Mountain Community, and is midway between the Passolanciano-Maielletta district and the territory of the Union of Teatine Hills.
History of Roccamontepiano
The history of Roccamontepiano begins in the Early Middle Ages, when the Lombard Castle was built to defend Maiella. Over the centuries, the village was affected by various dominations, from the Orsini feud in the 15th century, to Bartolomeo d'Alviano and the Colonna in the 18th century. Not much is known about the feudal period, but we do know that the current settlement developed in the 19th century after the landslide that hit the old village on Montepiano.
Monuments and places of interest in Roccamontepiano
Despite the destruction of the castle, Roccamontepiano still has several monuments and places of interest. One of the most important is the Convent of San Francesco Caracciolo, which stands on a hill above Roccamontepiano and was originally dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. For three hundred years, this convent was the main monastery of the municipality and was suppressed in 1861 with Piedmontese laws, only to return to the Franciscan monks.
Other important religious buildings are the church of San Rocco, rebuilt in the '50s as a sanctuary, the chapel of Santa Maria della Neve, the church of Madonna delle Grazie, and the church of Santa Maria de Lepide, rebuilt in the Terranova district in the '50s and dedicated to Saint Carlo Borromeo.
How to get to Roccamontepiano
Roccamontepiano is not very large, but is easily reachable. You can use it as a starting point to visit Eastern Abruzzo. To reach it, you can use the State Road 81 from Guardiagrele towards Chieti and Francavilla al Mare.
In conclusion, Roccamontepiano is a delightful place to spend time immersed in the culture and history of Abruzzo. I'm sure you'll be fascinated by the beauty of this municipality among the mountains and hills of Maiella.
