Sant'Eusanio del Sangro
Welcome to Sant'Eusanio del Sangro: the history and geography of the municipality
Hi everyone! Are you ready for a brief lesson on the history and geography of Sant'Eusanio del Sangro? This municipality, located in the province of Chieti in Abruzzo, has a population of about 2279 inhabitants and has much to offer in terms of its beautiful territory and rich history.
Territory
Sant'Eusanio del Sangro covers an area of approximately 23.83 km² and is surrounded by the municipalities of Castel Frentano, Casoli, Guardiagrele and Lanciano. An important river, the Sangro, flows to the south of the municipality, forming the border with Altino and Atessa. The city is predominantly hilly, but also has a small flat area near the river.
Climate
The climate of Sant'Eusanio del Sangro is particularly mild throughout the year thanks to its equidistant location from the Adriatic Sea and the slopes of the Maiella. Although temperatures can drop to just a few degrees above zero in the middle of winter, especially at night, the atmosphere is always pleasant. According to the climatic classification, the municipality belongs to the D climatic zone, with a value of Degree days equal to 1507.
The history of Sant'Eusanio del Sangro: from ancient times to today
The origins of the village
The origins of Sant'Eusanio del Sangro are somewhat uncertain, but there are some historical traces of the place in Roman times. In fact, it seems that as early as 165 AD in the Sant'Eusanio area there was a "conciliabolo" called Euxanum which had a place assigned in the fairground of Lanciano. However, most of the historical documentation dates back to a period when the city was called Monteclo and then Montecchio.
The church of Santo Eusanio
The saint's name is linked to the story of the healing of the blind Teoconia, which took place in the territory of Sant'Eusanio del Sangro. Following this event, a church was erected in memory of the saint and gradually the name of the sanctuary of Sant'Eusanio extended to the small inhabited nucleus surrounding it. The body of the saint was only discovered in 1748, when the then bishop of L'Aquila, Giuseppe Coppola, conducted a thorough search of the area. At this time, the name of the city was still Monteclo.
The evolution of the name of the municipality
The current name, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro, appears for the first time in a diploma of 1176, where the rights of the Teatine bishops are mentioned and not only Monteclo but also "Sante'Eusanio cum Castello suo" are named. In the Catalogus Baronum of 1204, the locality appears with the name "Sanctum Eusanium" as "feud of two militi possessed by the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere".
Curiosities about Sant'Eusanio del Sangro
In addition to history and geography, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro also has many interesting curiosities to discover. Here are a few:
The Palio
Sant'Eusanio del Sangro has a very particular Palio that takes place every year in September. In this event, each district of the municipality presents a horse decorated with the colors of their respective team, which parades through the streets of the city in a race of skill and speed.
Calanchi
In the Brecciaio area, you can find the famous calanchi, imposing geological formations that appear as real cracks in the ground. These natural parks are very nice to visit and represent one of the main attractions of the area.
Festivals and celebrations
Sant'Eusanio del Sangro is famous for its traditional festivals and celebrations, with typical cuisine and beautiful shows. Among the most famous festivals is that of Santo Eusanio, which takes place at the end of August, but there are also many other festivities that take place throughout the year.
In conclusion, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro is a very interesting municipality and deserves to be visited. Whether you are passionate about history, geography or simply love nature, here you will always find something interesting to discover. Come and visit it and discover everything that this beautiful municipality has to offer!
