Torricella Sicura
A journey to Torricella Sicura: discovering a place rich in history
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Torricella Sicura, a small town located in the province of Teramo, in Abruzzo.
Origins of the name
The name of Torricella Sicura comes from the presence of an ancient castle, of which today there are not many traces left. The specification "Sicura" referred in the past to one of the five neighborhoods of the town, but was officially adopted as part of the name of the municipality in 1863.
History
The castle of Torricella Sicura was probably located on a small hill that the inhabitants still call "lu castille" or Colle Ciliegio. It is said that an underground tunnel led from the castle to the surrounding countryside, and that some rusty weapons were found in this tunnel. The popular legend tells that under Colle Ciliegio there is a cave with a treasure protected by an enormous snake. Of course, it is only a legend, but it is interesting to note that it coincides with the assertion of the existence of the underground passage.
Throughout the territory of Torricella Sicura, evidence of the past can be found, from the Italic to the Roman period, up to the Middle Ages. Just outside the town, remains of a temple, some Roman tombs, and a mysterious altar with a dedication to the "unknown god" have been found. Numerous inscriptions have been discovered, some of which suggest the presence of a thermal building. Among these is also the dedication to the priestess Numisia.
Earthquakes
The territory of Torricella Sicura was hit by two earthquakes during the twentieth century, one on April 26, 1958, and the other on November 1, 1959. All the residents of the town remember these tragic events, but they have always rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt the town better than before.
Monuments and places of interest
Parish Church of St. Paul the Apostle
The main church of Torricella Sicura is the Parish Church of St. Paul the Apostle, located in the main square of the town. Built in the seventeenth century on the ruins of the old Pieve of San Paolo in Albata, the church was rebuilt in the last decades of the eighteenth century and completed in 1806. With a single nave, it has a brick facade enclosed by two concave and set back wings compared to the front wall, according to a classic typology of European Baroque.
Inside, it is possible to admire an altarpiece by Sebastian Majewskj representing the Madonna with the Child and some saints, dating back to 1627, and a seventeenth-century font from the old church. The Deposition, on the other hand, is a much more modest work. In the sacristy, there is also an ancient Corinthian capital, while other remains from the Roman era and fragments of the decoration of the medieval church of San Paolo are walled in the outer wall of the rectory.
The bell tower, on the other hand, is majestic and made of brick, with battlements at the top. The masonry, instead, consists of untreated stones and rinzaffi in brick.
Other places of interest
In addition to the church, Torricella Sicura offers a series of tourist attractions. For example, it is possible to visit the Fountain of the Naiads, located in Piazza Municipio, the Baronial Palace, the Civic Tower, the Church of Santa Croce, the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Altare, and much more.
The surprises never end in Torricella Sicura, one of the most characteristic villages in Teramo!
