Villa Popolo

Villa Popolo is a small village in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is a "frazione" of the "comune" of Torricella Sicura.

Geography

It is located next to the small community of Ioanella and about 1.5 miles from Teramo, the provincial capital.

The village of Villa Popola is divided into three small localities: Villa Torre (site of most of the residences), Popolo Alta and Popola Bassa. The last two locations are dominated by small, often economically impoverished, clusters of farmsteads.

History

Villa Popolo is famous for the Church of Saint Bartholomew containing precious frescoes. Historical records from the year 1267 make mention of this important parish church and interior and exterior engravings suggest that a renovation was completed the 1684. region.

Festivals

Each year, during the first part of June, the "Sagra del Formaggio Fritto" (Festival of Fried Cheese) takes place. In addition to a celebration of this famous dish, other delicacies and local wines are available for tastings. Exhibitions feature the transumanza (sheepherding migrations initiating in areas of Abruzzo and leading to Puglia, Lazio and other areas in more southern Italy). Various displays also depict the ancient professions of milling, cheese production, forestry, and woodworking.

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