Guardiagrele

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =guardiagrele-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Guardiagrele
name=Guardiagrele
region = Abruzzo
province = Chieti (CH)
elevation_m = 576
area_total_km2 = 56
population_as_of = december 31, 2004
population_total = 9662
population_density_km2 =177
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|12|N|14|13|E
frazioni = Anello, Bocca di Valle, Caporosso, Caprafico, Caprafico piane, Cerchiara, Colle Barone, Colle Luna, Comino, Melone, Piano Fonti, Piana San Bartolomeo, San Biase, San Domenico, San Leonardo, Santa Lucia, San Vincenzo, Sciorilli, Tiballo, Villa San Vincenzo, Voire
telephone = 0871
postalcode = 66016
gentilic =Guardiesi
saint = Donatus of Arezzo
day = August 7
mayor = Mario Palmerio
website = [http://www.comune.guardiagrele.ch.it www.comune.guardiagrele.ch.it]
mapx=42.2
mapy=14.2

Guardiagrele is a town and commune in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is situated in the foothills of the Maiella mountain at an elevation of around 576 metres. Its population numbers about 10,000.Captivated by the beauty of the panoramic views of the mountains and valleys of the Maiella visible from some points in the town, the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio nicknamed Guardiagrele 'la terrazza d'Abruzzo" ("Abruzzo's terrace").

Guardiagrele is the seat of the Maiella National Park, and is part of the club "Borghi più belli d'Italia" ("Most beautiful burghs in Italy").

Main sights

The biggest church in Guardiagrele is "Santa Maria Maggiore" of which it has been written, [ [http://www.borghitalia.it/html/vedere_en.php?codice_borgo=619 I Borghi più belli d'Italia ] ] .

The façade presents a splendid 14th-century gothic portal, among the most elegant in the Abruzzi Gothic style. The Coronation of the Virgin sculpture group in the portal lunette is also magnificent, attributed to the school of Nicola di Guardiagrele. Under the colonnaded portico, next to the lateral door, is the splendid fresco by Andrea De Litio (1473) portraying Saint Christopher. In the interior, completely rebuilt in the 18th century following an earthquake, crumbling stucco-work in the Baroque style and a shrine of the same period set off a 15th-century fresco representing the Madonna of the Milk.

In addition to "Santa Maria Maggiore", there are several other churches and palazzi or mansions of various ages which are of architectural interest, including "La chiesa di S. Nicola di Bari (Founded in the 4th Century)", "Il Convento dei Cappuccini (1599)", "Palazzo De Lucia (16th century)", "Palazzo Elisii (15th-18h century)", "Chiostro del Palazzo Comunale Piazza San Francesco (17th century)" .and "Palazzo Marini (1391)"

Museums include:

* "Museo Civico" (Civic Museum)
* "Museo del Costume e della Tradizione della Nostra Gente"' (Costume and Folk Museum)Chiostro del Palazzo Comunale Piazza San Francesco.
* "Museo del Duomo" ("Cathedral Museum"), in "Santa Maria Maggiore".
* "Museo Archeologico "("Archaeological Museum").

Culture

Known throughout Abruzzo for its wrought-iron craft, copper craft and gold-work, Guardiagrele was the home of the great goldsmith and sculptor Nicola da Guardiagrele, who was born there in the late 15th century.

The patron saints of Guardiagrele are Saint Donatus of Arezzo and Saint Emidius. Annually between the 6th and 8th of August there is a festival celebrating these saints in which the effigy of Donatus is paraded around the streets of Guardiagrele. It is traditional to eat "porchetta (oven or spit roasted suckling pig flavoured with pepper, rosemary, garlic and other seasonings)" at this time.

In the 11th century Archimandrite Saint Nicholas the Greek led a group of monks fleeing the Saracens who had occupied Calabria. In 1338 his body was moved to Guardiagrele and interred in la Chiesa di San Francesco (14th century). His saint's day is celebrated on the third Sunday of May.

Notable Guardiesi

* Morgan De Sanctis, Italian footballer

External links

* [http://www.borghitalia.it/html/borgo_en.php?codice_borgo=619 I Borghi più belli d'Italia - Entry on Guardiagrele] en icon
* [http://www.concapeligna.it/terrad'abruzzo/artecultura/poesie/dellaporta/della_porta_home.htm Examples of the poetry of the dialect poet Modesto della Porta]

References