Pacentro

Pacentro is a town with 1186 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the province of L' Aquila, region Abruzzo.

Location and description

Pacentro is above Sulmona on a plateau on the slopes of the Montagne del Morrone in the Majella National Park. The nearby towns are Campo di Giove, Cansano, Fara San Martino (CH), Lama dei Peligni (CH), Palena (CH), Eufemia a Maiella (PE), Sulmona and Taranta Peligna (CH).

The place is characterized by old buildings from the 16th to the 19th century. Particularly noteworthy is the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia from the 16th century and the ruins of a castle from the 14th century.

The ruins of the castle date from the 14th century and consist among others of three towers, two of which are relatively high. The building was badly damaged during the earthquake in 1915 and 1964 ruthlessly restored. Here, the masonry was negligently secured with cement, sometimes even replaced.

Pacentro has been praised as being particularly beautiful village of Italy.

History

The first mention Pacentros goes back to the 8th century. In the Middle Ages, the town grew up around a castle built there, whose ruins can still be visited today. In 1911 Pacentro peaked at a population of 4000. Thereafter, the population went back, especially in the years after the Second World War many inhabitants emigrated to the USA and to Australia.

Specialty

In the surroundings of the village vines of Montepulciano for the DOC - cultivated wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.