Civitella del Tronto

The territory of Civitella del Tronto is very vast and  crossed by the Salinello river and the Vibrata stream. The latter, which gives its name to the Abruzzo valley bordering the Marche, was born to the west of the village, on the eastern side of the Montagna dei Fiori at almost 1,700 meters above sea level.

To the north of Civitella there is Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata and the towns of the Marche region of Ascoli Piceno and Folignano, to the south Campli, to the east Sant'Omero and to the west Valle Castella, a town in Abruzzo of the Sicilian Valley with a very extensive territory. Civitella, moreover, is about halfway from the provincial capital of Teramo (17 km) and from Ascoli (20 km).

The origins of the village are not exactly placeable, although findings from the Neolithic and Upper Paleolithic were found in Ripe di Civitella and in the caves of Sant'Angelo and Salomone. However, the first certain historical records date back to the X-XI century, when the village was set up, while in the thirteenth century being part of the Kingdom of Naples assumed a considerable strategic importance as a border territory with another fundamental sovereign entity, the State of the Church .

In the mid-sixteenth century, precisely in 1557, was the territory of fierce battles between the French and Spanish and was besieged by the army of the Alps, but managed to resist so much to force the Duke of Guise to retreat to Ancona. Precisely during this conflict he changed (or rather completed) the name from Civitella to Civitella del Tronto and his people, for the heroic resistance that he demonstrated, was exempted for forty years from the payment of fiscal burdens in favor of the Kingdom and at the expense of the budget.

The damaged buildings and the Fortress were restored and renovated. Moreover, from a political-administrative point of view, in 1589 the rank of City and the title of Fidelissima del Regno by Philip II of Spain were conferred on it.

It was again under siege by the French in 1798 and in 1806 when the Fortress, defended by the major Irish Matthew Wade, managed to resist for four months stoically against the army of Napoleon, much larger and more armed, before honorably capitulating the 22 May 1806. In 1816, after the Congress of Vienna, it was assigned to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

But the fame of Civitella del Tronto is linked above all to the events of the Unification of Italy. The Piedmontese army of Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy besieged Civitella from 26 October 1860. While the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was gradually defeated and annexed by the Savoyard troops until it fell completely on 13 February 1861 with the taking of Gaeta and the subsequent surrender of March 17, the date on which the birth of the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in the Parliament of Turin, Civitella will fall only three days later, on March 20, 1861, or three days after the official date of the Unification of Italy . This is why Civitella del Tronto has gone down in history as the last stronghold of the Bourbon Kingdom.

The cuisine of Civitella del Tronto is part of the tradition of Teramo cuisine, but it can also boast three typical dishes, rooted in its peculiar historical event, that is macaroni with "ceppe", bourbon fillet and "Franceschiello" stew. .

As for macaroni with "ceppe" it is important to make a good ragù (according to the standard procedure). First of all you make the dough in the same way and with the same dosages of the classic egg-based macaroni. Then you cut it into thin strips that must be wrapped around the so-called "ceppa", that is a thin stick of wood or metal (similar to the irons used to make the stocking). By removing the "ceppa" you get a sort of "bucatini", that is a thin tube that, given its shape, retains the sauce better.

The bourbon fillet, however, is a second that is done with the tenderloin filet. Take it, coat it and brown it in butter, watering it with dry Marsala wine. Separately toast a crust of bread where the fillet is arranged, covering it in turn with anchovies and mozzarella. Once the mozzarella is melted you can serve the fillet sprinkling it with the cooking sauce.

Finally the "Franceschiello" stew. It is a stew of mixed meats, chicken, lamb and beef, which must be cooked with garlic, bay leaf and parsley. It should be served accompanied by pickles and green olives.

Market: Monday

Twinning: Salzburg, 26-27 May, 28-29 July 1989 (twinning with the fortresses of Hohensalzburg, Mauterndorf and Werfen).

Website: http://www.comune.civitelladeltronto.te.it/

• Cerqueto
• Civitella del Tronto (City)
• Collebigliano
• Cornacchiano
• Favale
• Frazione di S. Reparata
• Frazione Lucignano
• Frazione Ponzano
• Frazione Ripe
• Frazione Rocche
• Fucignano
• Gabbiano
• Gole del Salinello
• Località Rocche Ceppino
• Località Santa Croce
• Località Sant’Andrea
• Località Sant’Eurosia
• Località Villa Passo
• Piano Risteccio
• Piano San Pietro
• Ponzano
• Rocche di Civitella
• Villa Lempa

By Car

• From the North From the A14 towards Ancona, follow the signs for San Benedetto del Tronto - Ascoli Piceno, continue on the Ascoli-Mare RA11 highway until the Ascoli exit, then continue along the Strada Statale 81 towards Civitella del Tronto.
• From the South From the A14 towards Pescara, exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant'Angelo, take the Strada Statale 80 towards Teramo, continue along the SS81 towards Civitella del Tronto.
• From Pescara Take the Strada Statale 16 in the direction of Chieti, continue on the A14, exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant'Angelo, take the Strada Statale 80 towards Teramo, continue along the Strada Statale 81 towards Civitella del Tronto.
• From Chieti Take the Strada Statale 81, take the A14, exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant'Angelo, take the Strada Statale 80 towards Teramo, continue along Strada Statale 81 towards Civitella del Tronto.