Torrevecchia Teatina
Welcome to Torrevecchia Teatina: A Bit of History and Places of Interest
Hello everyone and welcome to Torrevecchia Teatina! We are a small town of about 4000 inhabitants located in the beautiful province of Chieti, in Abruzzo. Today I want to tell you a bit about the history of this city and show you its main monuments and places of interest.
History
Our city was first mentioned in the 14th century, with the names of Castri Turris and Turris Theatina. In 1743, Federico Valignani erected a palace in the center of Torrevecchia, which was called Villa Valignani. The city followed the events of nearby Teate, and in 1809 it was established as a municipality, merging the two centers of Castelferrato and Torremontanara.
Monuments and Places of Interest
But now let's move on to the monuments and places of interest in Torrevecchia Teatina. There are several religious buildings to visit, including the Church of San Rocco. This church is located in the urban center of the capital and was built in the 1960s. It has a rectangular plan with a single nave, an internal narthex, and a large octagonal rose window on the main façade facing Piazza San Rocco. The side walls feature a broken line with 10 vertical windows decorated with biblical passages for original internal lighting. On the left of the façade stands the tall bell tower, now a symbol of the small Teatina community.
There are also other churches to visit, such as the Church of Madonna della Libera. This church is located in the locality of Torre and was built in the 1960s by the people of Torre. It is a small load-bearing masonry building with classical finishes of the period. The façade is sober, with an entrance porch (external narthex) and a classic gable roof.
The Church of San Giuseppe is located in the locality of Castelferrato and was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It is in Abruzzese pseudo-Baroque style, with a basilical plan and a barrel vault. The interior is rich in decorations from the minor Abruzzese artistic tradition.
Finally, there is the Church of San Pasquale Baylon, located in the locality of Torremontanara. The construction of this church is dated back to the 19th century, after the discovery by local farmers of a simulacrum of San Pasquale Baylon near the Alento River. The church was originally intended as a family chapel, with a square plan and subsequently enlarged and equipped with a bell tower. The style of the church reflects that of Teatina rural votive chapels.
Lastly, we cannot forget the Valignani Palace, which stood along a secondary trail that followed the path related to springs and reservoirs. After various ownership changes, today the palace houses the Leonardo da Vinci University.
Conclusion
So here is a taste of the city of Torrevecchia Teatina and its main places of interest. We are proud of our history and our culture, and we hope to have inspired you to visit our city. Thank you for reading and see you soon!
