Costumi

Costumi is a frazione—a small hamlet—located in the commune of Torricella Sicura in the Italian Province of Teramo. The origins of the name date back to feudal times and refer to the usual and customary contributions ('costumi') that the denizens were expected to forward to the baronial landowners. The Costumarii, in fact, were the local townsmen entrusted with this act.

In modern times Costumi is principally known for four diffused clusters of residences, each surrounded by woodlots and farmers' grain fields. These groups of houses go by the names:

Data collected during the 12th census on 25 October 1981 provide the following population figures for Costumi:

The local parish church of Costumi is Saint Peters (San Pietro) in nearby Azzano.

At one time this area hosted a monastery which later became a parish church. In medieval times a large feudal estate was located here, this carrying the name University (Università), an ancient term given to the various communes comprising a large domain.
The historian Bernardino Delfico posits that the word Azzano derives from the ancient gens Attia. Many people with the last name Attia (and its derivatives such as Attio, Attiano and Attia) live or have lived in this locality.

The monastery (later a parish) that was located in this area was administered by the Abbey of Farfa and enjoyed the privileges and riches that accompanied this designation at least until the 1800th century.

This cluster of homes is located between San Pietro ad Azzano and Ioanella.

This small cluster of houses is located between Colle Sansonesco and Ioanella. From this location one has a panoramic view of the Gran Sasso and the surrounding mountain chain.

In historical documents related Colle Sansonesco the area is sometimes referred to by various names include Collesansonesco, Collo Sansonesco, and Colle Santonesco.
The famous historian Niccola Palma attributes the name of this area to a family called Sansone who were the likely owners.

Luigi Ercole in the beginning of the 1800s wrote about Colle Sansonesco in this way:
This is a small village located about three miles southeast of Teramo. It has 32 residents. The land is steep and mountainous. The main local product is acorns although grain and vineyards are also to be found...."
In the Regio Cedolario del 1787 (Royal Taxation Decree of 1787) the area is designated a feudo nobile, (noble feudal holding) i.e., a large aristocratic feud with certain delineated rights and responsibilities.

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Wikipedia