Capestrano

Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Capestrano
img_coa = Capestrano-Stemma.png img_coa_small =


image_caption =
region = RegioneIT|sigla=ABR
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=AQ (AQ)
mayor =
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 465
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 43.08
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 01-01-2007 "(ISTAT)"
population_total = 952
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 22,10
coordinates = coord|42|16|10|N|13|46|0|E|region:IT_type:city(952)
gentilic = Capestranesi
telephone = 0862
postalcode = 67022
frazioni = Capodacqua, Forca di Penne, San Pelagia, Scarafano.
saint = Saint Giovanni da Capistrano
day = 23 October
mapx = #expr:42 + 16 / 60.0
mapy = #expr:13 + 46 / 60.0
locator_position =
native_name = Capestrano
name = Capestrano
website = http://www.comunedicapestrano.it

Capestrano is a little town with 965 inhabitants (2001), 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".

Main sights

Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium

The Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium is situated on the bank of Tirino river, six kilometres far from Capestrano. The church was built in 752 A.C. as part of the monastery of St Vincenzo al Volturno, by the Lombard king Desiderius. The religious building we can admire still today was edified in the XII 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 in enigmatic Latin: SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS, that mean "everywhere - operates - holds - plow - sower". It is the anagram of the prayer "Pater Noster". In the XV century it was abandoned by the monks.

Piccolomini or Mediceo Castle

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The castle was built in the XIII century, on the hill next to the Tirino river and the Abbey of St. Peter ad Oratorium in a strategic position at 505 m on the sea level.The first document of 1284, when King Charles I of Sicily gave the castle to Riccardo d'Acquaviva, marquis of Capestrano. In 1462 the Castle passed on to Marquis Antonio I Todeschini Piccolomini d'Aragona (14? - 1493) nephew of Pope Pius II, which enlarged the castle with new towers with battlements. In 1579 Marquis Costanza Piccolomini daughter of Innico, sold the castle to Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1743 the Castle passed on to Charles III of Spain as Charles 3th Borbon King of Naples and two Sicilies. In 1860 the Castle passed on to Savoia King of Italy.

Antiquity

In the necropolis the statue of the "Warrior of Capestrano" (4th century BCE) was found during the work in a field by a farmer. The 2,09 m (6.9 feet) tall statue depicts an early Italic warrior in full gear. Now the statue is on display in the National Archaeological Museum of the Abruzzi in Chieti.

Notable people

*Saint Giovanni da Capistrano, an Italian friar, theologian and inquisitor was born here in 1386.
*The Italian-born American composer Dalmazio Santini (1923-2001) was born in Capestrano.

Twin Cities

*Buda, Hungary.
*San Juan Capistrano, California

Photo gallery

External links

* [http://www.comunedicapestrano.it Official site]
* [http://h1.ath.cx/muvi/musarc/f4.html Picture of the "Warrior of Capestrano"]