Demonym(s) Capestranesi Postal code 67022 | Elevation 469 m (1,539 ft) Area 43.08 km² Local time Wednesday 8:43 PM Dialling code 0862 | |
 | ||
Frazioni Capodacqua, Forca di Penne, Santa Pelagia, Scarafano Weather 6°C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 59% Humidity | ||
Capestrano is a comune and small town with 965 inhabitants (2017), in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".
Contents
- Map of 67022 Capestrano Province of LAquila Italy
- Antiquity
- Geography
- Abbey of St Peter ad Oratorium
- Piccolomini or Mediceo Castle
- Lake of Capodacqua
- Notable people
- Twin Cities
- References
Map of 67022 Capestrano Province of L'Aquila, Italy
Antiquity
In the necropolis the statue of the "Warrior of Capestrano" (6th century BC) was found during the work in a field by a farmer. The 2.09-metre (6.9 ft) tall statue depicts an early Italic warrior in full gear, the King of the Vestini tribe, Naevius Pompuledius, executed by the sculptor Aninis. Now the statue is on display in the National Archaeological Museum of the Abruzzi in Chieti.
Geography
Capestrano borders with the municipalities of Brittoli (PE), Bussi sul Tirino (PE), Carapelle Calvisio, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Collepietro, Corvara (PE), Navelli, Ofena, Pescosansonesco (PE) and Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi.
It includes four civil parishes (frazioni): Capodacqua, Forca di Penne, Santa Pelagia and Scarafano.
Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium
The Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium is on the bank of Tirino river, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Capestrano. The church was built in AD 752 as part of the monastery of St Vincenzo al Volturno, by the Lombard king Desiderius. The religious building was edified in the 12th century. It is a church with a nave, two side aisles and a choir. There is only one entrance door with a lintel decorated with vegetal motif. Onto the romanic portal there are two marble relief with the figures of David and St. Vincent Deacon. The façade has a marble square inscription of the Sator Square in Latin. In the 15th century it was abandoned by the monks.
Piccolomini or Mediceo Castle
The castle was built in the 13th century, on the hill next to the Tirino river and the Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium in a strategic position at 505 m above sea level. It was a feud of Tolomeo di Raiano in 1240, and was granted to the Acquaviva family in 1284 by Charles I of Angio (King Charles I of Sicily). Riccardo d'Acquaviva was thus named marquis of Capestrano. In 1462 the Castle passed on to Marquis Antonio I Todeschini Piccolomini d'Aragona (d. 1493), nephew of Pope Pius II, who enlarged the castle with new towers with battlements. In 1579 Marquess Costanza Piccolomini, daughter of Innico Piccolomini, sold the castle to Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1743 the Castle passed on to Charles III of Spain in his capacity as Charles III Bourbon, King of Naples and the two Sicilies. In 1860 the Castle passed on to the Savoyard King of Italy.
Lake of Capodacqua
In the frazione of Capodacqua is located the homonym little lake, locally famous for the presence of the ruins of submerged mills.