Civitella del Tronto ([tʃiviˈtɛlla del ˈtronto]) is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, within the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]

Civitella del Tronto
Comune di Civitella del Tronto
View of the Civitella old town.
View of the Civitella old town.
Location of Civitella del Tronto
Map
Civitella del Tronto is located in Italy
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto
Location of Civitella del Tronto in Italy
Civitella del Tronto is located in Abruzzo
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto (Abruzzo)
Coordinates: 42°46′N 13°40′E / 42.767°N 13.667°E / 42.767; 13.667
CountryItaly
RegionAbruzzo
ProvinceTeramo (TE)
FrazioniBorrano, Carosi, Cerqueto del Tronto, Collebigliano, Collevirtù, Cornacchiano, Favale, Fucignano, Gabbiano, Le Casette, Lucignano, Mucciano, Pagliericcio, Palazzese, Piano Risteccio, Piano San Pietro, Ponzano, Ripe, Rocche, Santa Croce, Sant'Andrea, Santa Maria, Santa Reparata, Sant'Eurosia, Tavolaccio, Valle Sant'Angelo, Villa Chierico, Villa Lempa, Villa Notari, Villa Passo, Villa Selva
Government
 • MayorCristina Di Pietro
Area
 • Total77 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation
589 m (1,932 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2015)[2]
 • Total5,130
 • Density67/km2 (170/sq mi)
DemonymCivitellesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
64010
Dialing code0861
Patron saintSt. Ubald
Saint day16 May
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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The origins of Civitella are unknown, though in the area have been found traces of human presence as early as the Neolithic and Upper Palaeolithic ages. The current town is believed to lie on the former Beregra, a town of the Piceni Italic tribe. It is first mentioned in the 10th to 11th centuries, as a walled town; in the 13th century it was part of the Kingdom of Naples, having a special importance as it was on the boundaries with the Papal States.

In 1557 it was besieged by French troops, but in vain. Thanks to its fierce resistance, it was given the title of Fidelissima ("Very Faithful") by King Philip II of Spain (at the time southern Italy was under Spanish control). Civitella was besieged again by the French during the Napoleonic Wars, in 1798 and 1806, this time being captured after four months of defence. In 1816, after the Congress of Vienna, it was annexed to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

The fortress of Civitella was the location of the last stand of that Kingdom after the Garibaldine and Piedmontese invasion of 1860, after the King Francis II had already surrendered in Gaeta, Naples and Sicily being annexed to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. Civitella surrendered on 20 March 1861.

Main sights

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The Fortress of Civitella is the largest in Italy, the second in Europe after the Hohensalzburg in Salzburg, Austria. It is located on the top of a rocky cliff, being about 500 metres (1,600 ft) long and 45 metres (148 ft) wide, for a total surface of 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft).

 
Sanctuary of Santa Maria dei Lumi.

The town has the following churches:

The surrounding mountains have karst topography in the landscapes of the Montagna dei Fiori.

 
Plan of the siege of Civitella del Tronto

Twin towns

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Abruzzo" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.