Roio del Sangro
Discovering Roio del Sangro
Roio del Sangro is a small municipality located on a rocky promontory at an altitude of 870 meters in the province of Chieti. With its 105 inhabitants, it is the third least populated municipality in the province, the sixth in the region, and falls within the list of the last 100 Italian municipalities by population.
History of Roio del Sangro
There is not much certain information about the history of Roio del Sangro. However, there are some hypotheses and popular legends that try to explain the origin of the name of the municipality. According to some, the name "Vicenne", from which the name "Roio" may derive, comes from the word "vicus" used by the Romans to indicate a settlement. Others believe that the term "Royo" comes from the word "Rodium", derived from the word "Podium", which means that there was a small inhabited center in the area that had the same name. There are also fanciful legends that derive the name of the municipality from episodes of invasion of red ants or bandits, but these hypotheses have been refuted by historical documentation.
Monuments and places of interest of Roio del Sangro
Roio del Sangro is home to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which boasts a lunette with a fresco depicting the Madonna among the Saints above the altar. The church was rebuilt or expanded in the 19th century and the exterior has recently been plastered. The interior, with its basilical architecture with three naves, is very suggestive and houses the sepulcher of the feudal lord Giulio Caracciolo. The church of San Nicola di Bari, dating back to the 16th century, was made of split pebbles and irregular stone blocks, with a portal characterized by Doric-style pilasters. The interior of the church, despite being in a state of ruin, is still very charming.
Conclusions
Roio del Sangro is a picturesque and suggestive municipality, ideal for those who want to discover the beauty of small Italian realities. If you have the opportunity to take a tour in these parts, I recommend visiting the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the church of San Nicola di Bari, which will give you moments of peace and carefreeness.
