Villamagna
Discovering the Municipality of Villamagna
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the Municipality of Villamagna, a picturesque village located in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy. Villamagna is situated in a hilly area and enjoys a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, perfect for a relaxing holiday surrounded by nature.
Climate
The climate of Villamagna is typically hilly, with not too pronounced annual and daily temperature changes, and moderate rainfall between 700 and 800 mm per year, especially concentrated in autumn.
Origins of the name
The name of the village testifies to the presence of a Latin settlement during Roman times. The term "villa" means "farm" or "estate" while "magna" means "great" and thus the village is called "Villa Magna". In 1059 it was mentioned as Villa Magna, while in 1308 it was mentioned as Villa Majna.
History
The history of Villamagna is very ancient, dating back to the 9th century, when Benedictine monks settled in the convent of San Severino. In the 12th century, the convent became part of the Abbey of San Liberatore at Maiella near Serramonacesca. In 1086, some agricultural lands included in the territory of Castello di Villamagna or Villa Maina were ceded by the castellan, named Ugo of Frankish origin, to the Monastery of the Abbey of San Clemente in Casauria. Villamagna then passed to the Normans, but in 1096, the Norman Drogone (also known as Tasso or Tassone or Tascione) returned to the bishop of Chieti, Rainolfo, various possessions, including Villamagna itself. In 1525, Charles V invested Antonio di Sava as the lord of Villamagna. Later, in 1567, Philip II of Spain granted the village to Agostino Scipioni, while in 1800 the village belonged to the Duke Caracciolo of Gessopalena. Moreover, until 1566, the village suffered raids from the Turks.
Monuments and places of interest
If you visit the village, you cannot miss its monuments and places of interest.
Religious architectures
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is the main church of the village and is located in Piazza Marconi. The current building was rebuilt between 1730 and 1750. During this period, the unfinished facade was reconstructed, and the Latin cross plan, with the transept arms widened and the internal choir divided by two vaulted rooms, was renovated. The bell tower is a spire tower. The single nave interior is decorated with Baroque stuccos, marbles, and painted canvases. The paintings are framed in Baroque filiform motifs, with scenes from the life of Christ and the Old Testament. Other valuable canvases are Santa Margherita against the Turks (1746) by Antonio Sardelli and San Michele Arcangelo with Jesus and the Madonna by Donato Teodoro (1753).
The Chapel of the Pio Monte dei Morti, adjacent to the main church, was built in 1586 and restored with the decorations of Giovanni Del Ponte in 1977.
Visiting Villamagna is a unique and interesting experience, immersed in nature, history, and art. I recommend you to visit this picturesque village if you come to Abruzzo! Thank you for reading and see you soon!
