San Demetrio ne' Vestini
Hi everyone! Today I'll talk to you about San Demetrio ne' Vestini, an Italian municipality located in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo.
Physical geography
Let's start with physical geography. San Demetrio ne' Vestini is located in a plain in the lower valley of the Aterno river, from an altitude of 640 meters above sea level up to 1250 meters above sea level, on the border with the Rocche plateau.
History
San Demetrio ne' Vestini has an ancient and fascinating history. The territory on which the town stands today was inhabited by the Italic people of the Vestini, who occupied the Aterno river valley. In the Middle Ages, the city was known as "Pagus chrementes" and later as Demetra, but the toponym "San Demetrio" appeared in the 10th century. San Demetrio was made up of a set of scattered villages: Cavantoni, Cardamone, Cardabello, Colle, Collarano, Villagrande, and Villa San Giovanni. In 1254, the castle of Sinizzo participated as a founding castle of the foundation of L'Aquila, occupying a room in the quarter of Santa Giusta.
San Demetrio ne' Vestini was involved in the war of L'Aquila carried out by the Aragonese captain Braccio da Montone, who occupied the castle in 1423. After Braccio's defeat, San Demetrio requested autonomy by establishing the university and began to develop demographically and economically, with the cultivation of cereals. In 1442, King Alfonso V of Aragon stayed in San Demetrio, having come to put an end to a territorial struggle between the town and L'Aquila.
Monuments and places of interest
Let's talk about the monuments and places of interest. San Demetrio ne' Vestini is rich in history and culture. Among the most interesting religious buildings, we find the Church of San Demetrio from Thessalonica, located in the southern area, in the area called "La Cona." Dating back to the medieval period, it was rebuilt from scratch in the seventeenth century.
The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake
On April 6, 2009, San Demetrio ne' Vestini was hit by the L'Aquila earthquake. The seismic event caused three deaths and numerous damages to the city's infrastructure. Among the most significant damages were the collapse of the facade of the Church of Santa Maria dei Raccomandati, the bell tower of the Church of San Giovanni in the homonymous fraction, and the landslide of Lake Sinizzo.
Curiosities
Finally, a curiosity: in 1691, the university asked the Kingdom to establish a public market every Friday, a tradition that has remained until today. In 1809, after San Demetrio ne' Vestini's entry into the new Kingdom of Italy, the municipality's name was changed to "San Demetrio ne' Vestini" in memory of the ancient Italic people.
And that's all about the city of San Demetrio ne' Vestini! If you are in the area, I highly recommend visiting this town full of history, culture, and natural beauty. See you soon, friends!
