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Municipality of about 500 inhabitants, it is situated at 450 meters of altitude, in a dominant position upon the river Mavone, and one of its features is the high number of hamlets and districts. The economy, which has always been almost exclusively based on agricultural production, on breeding and meat processing, has also seen a timid start of tourism, witnessed by the birth of some accommodation facilities that give tourists the opportunity to enjoy a quiet place, with views and enchanting landscapes, a rich typical cuisine and a stone's throw from the Gran Sasso mountain range. The main attraction is undoubtedly the Abbey of Santa Maria di Ronzano, located in the hamlet of Ronzano, about 3 km from the town. For some years now, the Municipality of Castel Castagna has become renowned in the extra-regional landscape for a tourist attraction of great appeal set up in December and for the duration of the Christmas holidays: the Santa Claus House, a large wooden log cabin of 300 approximately square meters with free admission, with numerous ludic-didactic laboratories, which recalls thousands of visitors and schoolchildren from the entire region in the small village of Teramo.
Some traces of human presence in the current site date back to prehistoric times, but the town began to develop during the Middle Ages, probably around 1100, around the castle Castanee, now disappeared, which was intended to protect the population from the attacks of Saracens.
Taste
As far as the gastronomic sector is concerned, the traditional peasant cuisine is characterized by simple, genuine and delicious dishes such as the taglioni with beans (tajarìll ngh li fasciùl).
A typical dish ... and its recipe
The ingredients for 6 people are: 600-700 g of flour, 1 kg of fresh or 300 g of dried beans (to be kept to soak for at least ten hours), 100 g of lard, half a glass of extra virgin olive oil, 500 g of ripe tomatoes, an onion, a rib of celery, a little marjoram, pepper, salt and pepper.
First boil the beans with the celery and prepare the sauté with oil, the beaten of lard and onion, adding the tomato, a little salt and a pinch of pepper. For the taglioni it is necessary to prepare the dough of the flour with water and a little salt. Work it for a long time until it becomes a homogenized block. At that point roll it out with a rolling pin and get a fairly thick sheet and then cut it into strips seven to eight centimeters wide. Cut the strips sideways in order to obtain short and thick macaroni. Cook with plenty of salt water. Once cooked, drain and mix well with the beans with a little 'chili.
Traditional festivals
On August 15 of each year at Castel Castagna, a very special event is celebrated and heard by the whole local community: the blessing of the children with the Reliquary of the True Cross, the Byzantine Cross, according to a particular Consecration rite.
Market: Sunday
Twinning: Pianezze (Vicenza).
Website: http://www.comunedicastelcastagna.gov.it/
- Castel Castagna (City)
- Contrada S. Maria
- Corazzano
- Ronzano
By Car
- From the north and south. From the A14 Adriatica motorway (from the north: direction Ancona, from the south: direction Pescara), exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant 'Angelo, take the SS 80 Strada Statale del Gran Sasso towards Teramo, continue on the A 24 motorway, exit at Basciano / Villa Vomano, take the SS 150 towards Montorio al Vomano, turn onto the SP 491, cross Pizzicato, Santa Maria di Ronzano, then continue on the SP 37B for Castel Castagna.
- From Pescara. Take the SS 16 in the direction of Chieti, continue in the direction of the A14 motorway, exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant 'Angelo, take the SS 80 National Road of Gran Sasso towards Teramo, continue on the A 24 motorway, exit in Basciano / Villa Vomano, take the SS 150 towards Montorio al Vomano, turn onto the SP 491, cross Pizzicato, Santa Maria di Ronzano, then continue on the SP 37B for Castel Castagna.
- From Chieti. Take the SS 81, take the A 14 motorway, exit at Teramo / Giulianova / Mosciano Sant'Angelo, take the SS 80 Strada Statale del Gran Sasso towards Teramo, continue on the A 24 motorway, exit at Basciano / Villa Vomano, take the SS 150 towards Montorio al Vomano, turn onto the SP 491, cross Pizzicato, Santa Maria di Ronzano, then continue on the SP 37B for Castel Castagna.
Train / Bus.
By train the nearest train stations are Teramo (local director, about 24 km away) and Giulianova (national director, about 46 km away). Continue by bus with the regional "Arpa" Autolinee.
