Pacentro
| Pacentro | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di Pacentro | ||
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 Pacentro
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| Coordinates: 42°03′N 14°03′E / 42.050°N 14.050°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Abruzzo | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | L'Aquila (AQ) | |
| Frazioni | Passo San Leonardo | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Guido Angellili | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 71 km2 (27 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 653 m (2,142 ft) | |
| Population (1 January 2007) | ||
| • Total | 1,269 | |
| • Density | 18/km2 (46/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Pacentrani | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 67030 | |
| Dialing code | 0864 | |
| Patron saint | San Marco, Madonna della Misericordia | |
| Saint day | April 25, May 8 | |
Pacentro is a comune of 1279 inhabitants of the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy. It is a well-preserved historic medieval village located in the central part of Italy, several kilometers from the City of Sulmona about 170 kilometres (110 mi) east of Rome. Pacentro has been nominated as one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" (the most beautiful villages in Italy).
Pacentro lies in the Apennine Mountain Range on a plateau consisting of small hills 650 metres (2,133 ft) above sea level. The castle sits on one hill (Colle Castello) at one end of town and the other hill (Colle San Marco) is where the old Church of S. Marco used to sit. The town is just below Mount Morrone and just above the Peligna Valley (Conca Peligna) and the City of Sulmona. Pacentro is part of the Majella National Park (Parco Nazionale della Majella) and is renowned for its springs and fresh mountain water that comes from the snow of the Majella.
The village has documented origins back to the 9th or 10th centuries, but the area was known as a mountain retreat since Roman times.
Pacentro is one of several towns in the area with a medieval castle due to its position at the entrance of the strategic San Leonardo mountain pass to Pescara. The original castle was controlled by the Counts of Valva. There are writings of the era that mention a certain "Gualterio, son of Manerio, Count of Valva", who lived in the Castle of Pacentro in 1130. The castle in its current form dates from the 14th century and was built by the Cantelmo lords. It is partially ruined but is still preserved with three of the four towers mostly intact. The castle was sold by the Cipriani-Avolio family to the town government in 1957. It is now being restored and will be opened as a tourist attraction. Another resident of Pacentro was Pope Celestine V. This pope, originally known as Pietro da Morrone, was a 13th-century monk-hermit of the Benedictine order who lived in a cave in the nearby mountains and was renowned for his holiness. He was elected pope by acclamation in L'Aquila in 1294, but was the only pope to resign after a reign lasting only several months. His image can be seen on a medieval fresco in a lunette on the facade of the Church of San Marcello in Pacentro.
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Wikipedia