Cermignano

Municipality of about 1,600 inhabitants located at 560 m s.l.m. on a hill overlooking the valleys of Vomano and Piomba. The territory in which Cermignano rises was inhabited already in pre-Roman times by the Adriatic Sabines, who had obtained a cult area on nearby Mount Jupiter including a temple dedicated to Jupiter, almost certainly the largest offshore sanctuary built by this people.

It seems then that in late Roman times there existed in the vicinity of the current village a villa of a certain Germanianus, from which derives the name Cermignano, whose first official mentions date back to the mid-twelfth century.

Given its strategic position, Cermignano and its two main hamlets, namely Montegualtieri and Poggio delle Rose, immediately played an important and recognized defensive function testified by the traces of the fortified plant of the capital, from the ruins of the ancient castle of Poggio delle Rose and above all from the triangular tower of Montegualtieri, still well preserved and a destination for tourist visits.

Cermignano, from the point of view of gastronomy, fits perfectly in the furrow of traditional Teramo cuisine, but also presents reworked and particularly succulent dishes.

To be noted the "crespelle in brodo", the "ravioli salati", the "fregnacce", to which until a few years ago a festival was reserved, and the "li cillitte" (small birds) of Sant'Antonio Abate, typical desserts stuffed with the typical Abruzzese grape jam (the "scrucchiata") dedicated to the cult of the patron saint of animals and peasants, which is celebrated on January 17th.

On this occasion the tradition of cultural research on the songs of begging related to the cult of the Saint is continued, with itinerant folk groups, musicians and theaters that recall, for the lanes of the quaint village of Teramo, the temptations of the Hermit and the eternal struggle between Good and evil.

A typical dish ... and its recipe

 Here is the recipe to prepare the traditional birds ("li cillitte") of Sant'Antonio. For the dough: 500 g of flour, 150 ml of extra virgin olive oil, 150 ml of white wine, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 pinch of salt. For the filling: 350 g of grape jam, 150 g of toasted and chopped almonds, 50 g of grated bitter chocolate, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of rum, grated orange peel.

Preparation: Place the flour in the fountain on the work surface. In the middle, pour the oil, the wine, add the sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix the ingredients by incorporating the flour and forming a soft dough. Leave to rest under a heated bowl with boiling water and dried. For the filling: heat the jam in a saucepan, add the almonds, the chocolate, the cinnamon, the rum, the orange peel. Mix the ingredients on low heat and then allow to cool. Heat the oven to 170 ° C. Roll out the dough making a very thin sheet.

Cut the pastry into squares of 15 cm each side. In the center of each diagonally arrange a spoonful of stuffing. Fold an angle inward, wrapping the filling, roll up and bring the two ends upward. One will be the head the other the tail of the little bird. Mark the tail with the knife and use scissors to make incisions in the center of the bird. Arrange the desserts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Traditions

A peculiarity of Cermignano, which around the middle of the nineteenth century made the town an important reference point for textile companies, is the art of bobbin work, now confined to the family tradition.

Market: Every Tuesday, in Piazza De Sterlich from 08.00 to 13.00

Website: http://www.comune.cermignano.te.gov.it/

• Cermignano (City)
• Contrada Scanzature
• Montegualtieri
• Poggio delle Rose
• Santa Maria

Auto

• Da Nord
  Dall’autostrada adriatica A14 direzione Ancona, uscire a Teramo/Giulianova/Mosciano Sant’Angelo, prendere la SS 80 Strada Statale del Gran Sasso in direzione Teramo, continuare sull’autostrada A 24, uscire a Val Vomano, prendere la SS 81 in direzione di Villa Vomano, proseguire per Cermignano.
• Da Sud
  Dall’autostrada Adriatica A14 direzione Pescara, uscire a Roseto degli Abruzzi, proseguire sulla SS 150 in direzione di Montorio al Vomano, attraversare Castelnuovo Vomano, Piano Vomano, proseguire in direzione di Cermignano.
• Da L’Aquila
  Imboccare l’autostrada A 24 L’Aquila - Teramo, uscire a Basciano/Villa Vomano, seguire la direzione Villa Vomano/Roseto degli Abruzzi, prendere la SS 150, attraversare Villa Vomano, proseguire sulla SS 81 in direzione di Cermignano.
• Da Pescara
  Percorrere la SS 16 in direzione di Chieti, continuare in direzione dell'autostrada A 14, uscire a Roseto degli Abruzzi, proseguire sulla SS 150 in direzione di Montorio al Vomano, attraversare Castelnuovo Vomano, Piano Vomano, proseguire in direzione di Cermignano.
• Da Chieti
  Percorrere la SS 81, imboccare l'autostrada A 14, uscire a Roseto degli Abruzzi, proseguire sulla SS 150 in direzione di Montorio al Vomano, attraversare Castelnuovo Vomano, Piano Vomano, proseguire in direzione di Cermignano.