Istituto Omnicomprensivo di Alanno Erasmus KA2 Project SOL - Socialize, Observe, Learn

Our region

Lithuania 3rd - 9th May 2015 Culture & Nature

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Abruzzo Location: middle of Italy. Surface: 10,763 sk. Coastline: over 150 km. Population: 1.3 million inhabitants. Borders: Marche, Lazio, Molise and Adriatic Sea.

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Four provinces: ●L’Aquila ●Pescara ●Chieti ●Teramo

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History Origin: Neolithc times.

Abruzzo derives from the Latin word "Aprutium“. Several inhabitants: Equi, Marsi, Vestini and Praetutii, who were conquered by the Romans before the third century BC.

Necropoli of Fossa - IXth Century BC 4

After the Roma empire: small feudal states. Other people: Lombards, Normans and Frederick II of Svevia, the Anjou, the Aragonese, the Spanish Hapsburgs. In the 18th century it became part of the Bourbon kingdom of Naples.

The Rocca Calascio Castle Xth Century 5

1860 - united Italy; 1948 Abruzzo - the region of Abruzzo and Molise; 1963 the two regions were separated again.

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Economical resources Agricultural production •Cereals, potatoes, wine and olive trees;

vegetables,

•typical products exported to Italy and abroad: saffron, liquorice, tobacco and sugar beet.

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Pig breeding Salami, sausages produced locally.

and

ham

are

Fishing

Qualifying sectors of the economy of the region.

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The province of L’Aquila Borders: provinces of Teramo, Pescara and Chieti, Molise and the region Lazio. It’s in the heart of Abruzzo It has no access to the sea.

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Territory •108 towns; •13 are counted as the "Most beautiful villages in Italy“. Some of them: Castel di Monte, Navelli and the town of Scanno

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Nature Attracts tourists from all over the world thanks to its landscapes and artistic beauties.

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Wild animals: The Apennine wolf, the Abruzzo chamois and the Marsican brown bear.

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History of the city of L’Aquila •Territory of L'Aquila: montainous. •Frederick II planned the construction of the city of L’Aquila in 1250. •In 1294 the hermit Pietro del Morrone chose the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio with the name of Celestine V.

Basilica di Collemaggio

•Since then, every year, on 28th and 29th August the rite of Perdonanza Celestiniana takes place.

The Castle of L’Aquila

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Earthquakes: •6th April 2009 when the city was almost completely destroyed; •309 people died; •restoration is in progress.

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Resources Skiing: Campo di Giove, Campo Felice, Campo Imperatore, Ovindoli and Scanno. Trekking, jogging and horseback riding. Cycle or mountain-bike along the valleys and slopes of the countryside. Mushrooms and truffles cooked on the spot.

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Food Cheese, particularly pecorino cheese and marcetto. L'Aquila's saffron - do not miss out! Famous sweets are the confetti of Sulmona, the Ferratelle (sweet wafers with eggs and anise), the Castagnaccio and the typical chocolate torrone, from L'Aquila.

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The Province of Pescara History and Territory

•Foundation of the city of Pescara in 1927; •two historical villages separated by the Aterno River: Pescara and Castellamare Adriatico; •46 towns in this province.

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Territory •Two contrasting areas: the coastal and hilly external area of the Province, plains and sandy shores; and the inner mountainous zone, with its carbonate Apennine peaks; •the inland part of the territory is characterized by the presence of several rivers: the Pescara River, the Orta, the Tirino and the Tavo. •lakes: Lakes Penne and Alanno, host protected oasis.

River Orta

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The city of Pescara •Places to see: Corso Umberto I, which ends at Piazza Rinascita, best known as Piazza Salotto, Piazza Primo Maggio, The Provincial Government Building and the City Hall are in Piazza Italia, Corso Manthonè (a nightlife hub), the Vittoria Colonna Museum of Modern Art. • The city is the birthplace of Gabriele d’Annunzio, an important Italian poet.

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Territory of Pescara: Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, the Majella National Park, the natural reserves of Valle dell'Orfento and the Pineta Dannunziana (D’Annunzio’s pine grove), and the Natural Reserve of the Pescara River Source.

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Resources •Sun, sea, sports and movida are the keywords of the Province of Pescara; •the sources of the Pescara River - The Tirino River is the ideal location to canoe or mountain-bike along its shores; •ideal place for birdwatching, trekking and photography; •the coastline offers both relaxation and summer sport activities like swimming, spinning and water bike, beach volleyball, beach golf, windsurfing and watercraft rentals.

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Food •Based on natural products: olive oil, honey and the well-known lamb arrosticini, the porchetta, the sheep alla callara; •a great variety of dairy products: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses, fior di latte, fresh mozzarella, scamorza, caciocavallo, pecorino and caprino, •Kinds of bread and pasta: “pasta alla mugnaia”; its traditional shapes are lasagne, ravioli, fregnacce and pappardelle.

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The Province of Chieti History and Nature •The Province of Chieti - ancient name for the city (Teate); •Territory: predominantly hilly and mountainous •104 towns; •the Teatine coastline - the Costa dei Trabocchi.

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The city of Chieti •Fourth municipality in Abruzzo; •It stands on a hill that separates the Aterno-Pescara waters from those of Alento; •the city consists of two parts: Chieti Alta (the higher part) including the old city centre, and Chieti Scalo (the newest part), including the university campus. Places to see: The Cathedral of San Giustino and The Villa (a Neoclassical residence that hosts the National Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo).

The Cathedral of San Giustino

Il Guerriero di Capestrano (National Archeological Museum)

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Chieti - University of Gabriele d’Annunzio.

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Resources and food •Coastal cities: beach volleyball, tennis, swimming pools, water skiing, windsurfing and sailing; •fishing near the trabocchi; •pinewoods are ideal for refreshing walks; Most important dishes: sanguinaccio alla chietina, turcenelle (a kind of pasta) with tomato sauce, spaghetti alla chitarra is the most famous main course, as in the rest of Abruzzo; the pizzelle, the tarallucci, the cicerchiata and the fiadoni which are traditional Easter sweets.

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The Province of Teramo History •Borders: region Marche, Province of Pescara and L’Aquila, region Lazio. •47 towns. •The Province of Teramo was established in 1806 by the Kingdom of Naples, separating it from the actual province of L'Aquila. •History: originally the Piceni; in Roman times: Teramo was called Intermnia (city between two rivers). •It's a historical and very charming city

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Territory •Two major mountains: the Laga massif, with its woods and waterfalls, and the Gran Sasso d'Italia, representing the western border of the province and culminating with the Corno Grande (9,554 m). •Activities- photography, birdwatching and trekking. •The coast - water sports and it is characterized by sandy beaches and a Mediterranean climate that fosters the growth of palms, pine trees and oleanders.

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The city of Teramo Among the major artistic monuments of the city there is the Romanesque Duomo di Teramo and the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie.

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Food •In summer: The “sagre” or food fairs with wine and food; •the ventricina teramana: especially fat salami (5060% of the mixture); •the pecorino marcetto: typical inland cheese; •the Millefiori mountain honey is especially tasty; •Porchetta is a special traditonal food (pork).

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Parks

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•Two-thirds of the Abruzzo: Apennine mountains. •Its highest peaks: Corno Grande of Gran Sasso (2,912 m) and Monte Amaro of Majella (2,794 m). •Abruzzo, land of parks, is also called the Green Region of Europe.

In this region, in fact there are: ● three National Parks; ● a Regional Park; ● 38 between oasis and regional reserves and state. •In total, protected areas in Abruzzo represent about 30% of the entire region. There are different natural landscapes here: from vast plains of the Gran Sasso, the Main Highlands, deep canyons of the Maiella, extensive forests of the Laga mountains; wild rocky areas, waterfalls, caves and even a glacier, the Calderone on the Corno Grande.

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Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise •Abruzzo National Park: extends from Abruzzo to the middle eastern slope of Lazio and Molise. •In the Abruzzo side there are three areas: the Alto Sangro, Marsica Fruscense and the valley of Sagittarius. •It is one of the oldest in Italy (1923) and its institution played a key role in the conservation of some very important wildlife species for Italy such as the Apennine wolf, the lynx, the Abruzzo chamois and the Marsicano brown bear .

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Parco Nazionale della Majella This is the Park of the wolf, of the bear and of the vast high-altitude plateaus and wild and impressive canyons, but also the Park of the hermitages (Hermitage of Celestino V), abbeys, dry stone huts and of some wonderful historical centres of Abruzzo. The main mountain chain is called Majella. It is the ‘Mother’ Mountain of Abruzzo.

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National Park of Gran Sasso della Laga and mountains of Laga •The National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga: the largest protected areas of Italy; •it involves three regions (Abruzzo, Marche and Lazio). •His vast landscapes have conquered generations of mountain enthusiasts, including many film directors who have climbed between these wild places to shoot their films. •The Gran Sasso offers the most famous landscapes with Corno Grande (2,912 meters of height); •The Laga Mountains: its peaks have rounded edges and are cut by deep valleys rich in running water. •The fauna of the park has its symbol in the Abruzzo chamois. 35

Cultures and traditions of Abruzzo Abruzzo has a great variety of traditions all related to religion and cultural aspects. Most of them are very old and linked to the territory where they are celebrated.

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Living Nativity scene (Cugnoli) It is a religious and cultural event of great importance, both in Abruzzo and in Italy and it is held in December or January. Each year a child is chosen to represent Jesus, generally the last born in the village. The event exhibits nativity scenes as described in the Gospel story with shepherds, farmers and pilgrims.

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St. Antonio (Alanno) Sant’Antonio is the patron Saint of animals, farmers and breeders. On this day tradition says that all types of animals must be blessed. People also light bonfires as fire is a symbol of having a purifying and fertilizing function and then the ashes are kept to ward off diseases. In Alanno every year there is a

particular tradition called “Lu Sant’Antonie”, which is a live play about the saint’s life.

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S. Biagio (Alanno) San Biagio is considered to be the protector of the throat as he saved a child who was choking on a fishbone. So, this day represents the ritual of the “blessing of the throat” crossing two candles near the gullet and invoking the Saint’s intercession. On 3rd February the village of Alanno commemorates this Saint who is the patron of the village.

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La “Fiera dell’Agricoltura” di Alanno It was opened for the first time in 1975 at ITAS (a secondary school) in Alanno. In 2015 there was the 37th edition. Over the years it has changed its name to “Mostra Mercato” and is held upon the arrival of spring. It is an exhibition of agricultural products, typical food and local crafts.

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La Madonna che scappa (The running Madonna) It is held on Easter Sunday at twelve o’clock in Piazza Garibaldi in Sulmona. The Virgin, after the announcement of Christ’s resurrection, goes out of the church and runs towards the resurrected Christ. The statue is held by four men who are selected at random every year. At the end of the procession there are fireworks, a band and people applauding. The people of Sulmona show the success of the ceremony by the falling of the Virgins black mantle and the flight of doves.

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Festa dell’Oratorio On Easter Monday in Alanno there is a famous procession called “Madonna delle Grazie”. There are fireworks and people eat typical Easter cakes : “fiadoni “ (pies filled with eggs and cheese) “pupe and cavalli” (horses and dolls), sweets covered with white frosting and coloured sprinkles. You can also admire the wonderful church of Oratorio di Santa Maria delle Grazie.

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I Serpari (Cocullo) A very special festivity in Abruzzo is the Serpari’s Procession. It takes place once a year in Cocullo, an ancient village in the heart of the mountains in honor of Saint Domenico. It is celebrated in spring, on the first Tuesday of May and it attracts a lot of tourists, photographers and anthropologists. It commemorates Saint Domenico, the patron Saint of Cocullo who protects teeth and defends people against poisonous snakes. This festivity dates back to the Roman ages. Serpari means ‘people bringing snakes’. On the morning of the celebration they bring the snakes to church and put them onto the statue of the

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The Feast of Madonna della Croce (Pietranico) The Madonna della Croce (Pietranico) is a very particular feast. On 25th March in 1623 in the Pietranico countryside a gentleman, Domenico del Biondo, considered by many a very simple person, went down to check the grain he had sown and found that sheep had ruined his field. Suddenly a blonde woman appeared who urged him not to despair. The farmer was amazed by the beauty of the lady and asked her who she was. The lady replied that he did not have time to waste and he had to go to the village (2 km away) and invite all the people especially the Mayor and the priest to come down. The man did as he was told, but when he arrived he was mocked by the people who obviously did not believe that he had seen an apparition. So the Lady then invited him to return to the village and say that in the place of their meeting he had to build a church.

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The man then realised that the Lady was not just a woman but the Madonna. He then ran to the village and convinced the Mayor and the priest to come down. Once they arrived the lady was still there and repeated the invitation for them to build a church in her honor. Work on the church began immediately and was completed quickly. Since 1675 every year in Pietranico there is a procession with a bonfire to thank the Virgin that saved the village from the raids of thieves. To defend the village from a siege the village was encircled with a ring of fire for protection. Since then every year the statue of the Madonna is carried in the procession through the streets of the village accompanied by a band and followed by two rows of people who hold torches and shake a rosary. 45

Feast of Madonna del Carmine (Cugnoli) On 16th July Cugnoli celebrates the Madonna del Carmine. This feast is dedicated to the Church which is located near the village cemetery where you can admire the statue of Beata Vergine del Carmelo that dates back to the 1700’s. In ancient times there was a Confraternity of Mount Carmel. On this day the pilgrims held a short procession accompanied by the sound of a local band. During the day they also organise games and activities for kids. In the evening local people, after having attended mass, remain at the party and eat arrosticini’s and porchetta, and wait for the fireworks at midnight. 46

Feast of Sant’Andrea (Pescara) The Feast of Saint Andrew in Pescara is a tradition that dates back to 1867 in Castellammare Adriatico, a village near the sea-port and the river. St. Andrew is the protector of fishermen. At nine o’clock in the morning, after the celebration of mass, there is a procession of boats and the statue of the saint is accompanied towards the harbour. The statue of the saint is put on a boat named Ammiraglia, where you can find the priest, the representatives of fishermen and the authorities. The tradition says that you can’t swim in the sea until you have taken part in the procession. Over the years, the tradition has been enriched with the usual night of fireworks for St. Andrew. 47

The Feast of Santo Stefano (Cugnoli) The feast of Santo Stefano is held in Cugnoli on 31st August. Santo Stefano is the patron saint of the village and is considered the Holy of Forgiveness. In Italy St. Stephen is on 26th December, but in our village he is celebrated on 31st August; In the main Church of the village there is a statue of the Saint that dates back to the 1700’s and a pulpit that dates back from 1156. During the celebration of Santo Stefano - after having participated in Mass - the pilgrims stop in the village to taste the local products. In the evening, at about midnight, you can admire the fireworks or the Ballo della Pupa (traditional woman with fireworks).

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Festa dell’Uva (The Grape festival) On the first Sunday of October in Alanno there is “The festa dell’uva” (grape festival), to celebrate the end of the grape’s harvest and winepressing. This celebration includes traditional songs, dances and the performance of the steps to make wine. This started 50 years ago and it is considered a carefree and happy moment of the year.

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Feast of San Martino (San Valentino) He is the Saint who protects from marital infidelity (feast of the horned husbands). There are parades with an infidelity theme. This feast is celebrated in San Valentino, near Alanno and Cugnoli.

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Santa Lucia

She is the patron Saint of eyesight because of the martyrdom her eyes were removed. The celebrations and the religious processions start with the Pastorella (Shepherdess) and ends with the Ballo della Pupa (Dance of the Pupa). The shepherdess has Nordic origins and consists of a song accompanied by music played during the nights of the 12th and 13th December. People go around the streets until dawn. The Pupa is a papermâché puppet moved by a man under it and surrounded by the crackle of fireworks that burn it. In Alanno there is the tradition of the Pastorella. The feast is celebrated near the winter solstice and that’s why there’s the saying “Saint Lucia is the shortest day of the year”.

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Italian delegation in Lithuania Students: Di Michele Maddalena, D’Ermiliis Aurora, Pelusi Mayra, Mucci Michela, Manzoli Luca andTaddeo Michele. Teachers: Quieti Sabatino, Antinucci Nadia. 52