San Giovanni Lipioni
| San Giovanni Lipioni | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di San Giovanni Lipioni | ||
San Giovanni Lipioni
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 San Giovanni Lipioni
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| Coordinates: 41°51′N 14°34′E / 41.850°N 14.567°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Abruzzo | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Chieti (CH) | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Angelo Di Prospero | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.67 km2 (3.35 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 545 m (1,788 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 286 | |
| • Density | 33/km2 (85/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Sangiovannese | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 66050 | |
| Dialing code | 0873 | |
| Patron saint | St. Felice | |
| Saint day | August, 21st | |
| Website | Official website | |
San Giovanni Lipioni is a small village and comune located at the southernmost tip of Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy, on a 545-metre (1,788 ft) hill overlooking the river Trigno valley.
The first settlement in the village presumably dates back to the pre-Roman times, when the area was under the control of the Samnites population. As an evidence of this is a III century B.C. bronze man's head discovered in the village countryside in 1847 and currently stored at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
Starting from the 14th century, the village was under the influence of the Kingdom of Naples through the Aragon and the D'Avalos families, of Spanish origin, which held possessions in the nearby coastal town of Vasto. The name Lipioni is thought indeed to be derived from the Spanish los peones (unskilled labourers), referring to the predominant peasantry condition and sheep-rearing activity of the village's inhabitants.
Subsequently, until 1861 the village was under control of the Caracciolo families, always within the Kingdom of Naples territory. Among the most important families of the village is nowadays the Rossi family, lawyers and medical doctors, owners of an important and ancient historical house. The building is now the focus of a judicial process between the heirs of the family.
The village essentially lives on agriculture like the neighbouring ones. The majority of the working population is employed in the sector, and production is geared towards local and family consumption. The main produces are wine and extravirgin olive oil (renowned outside the region for its quality), along with wheat, corn, cherries, apples, walnuts, almonds, artichokes, tomatoes, and peppers.
After the end of World War II, because of severe poverty and high unemployment, the village suffered a considerable emigration towards richer Northern Italy areas, especially in the town of Bologna, where a sizeable community live nowadays. A small number also migrated to Belgium, in the Charleroi area to work in the local coal mines, and France by subsequently settling there.
From around 900 units in 1951, the population halved to 457 in 1982, and down to 371 in 1991, according to official ISTAT statistics.
In 2001 the total population plummeted to 271 units and as of 2006, the stable residents are less than 250, of which those aged 65+ account for half of the total.
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Wikipedia