SANTA MARIA IMBARO Santa Maria Imbaro is a

SANTA MARIA IMBARO Santa Maria Imbaro is a town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia) Located on a ridge to the left of the Sangro river, the village is surrounded by fertile agricultural fields. It is home to the Institute of Pharmacological Research "Mario Negri Sud. (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia)

History The area was already inhabited in Roman times, as evidenced by several findings. In a document of 1017 there is a mention of the Church of Santa Maria Imbaro, although only in 1528 a first census of the population was made, which recorded only twenty families, most of them "schiavoni" (Slavic refugees). Points of Interest Church of St. Maria Imbaro, of ancient origins, although completely transformed, with a remarkable 13 th-century wooden sculpture of the Virgin and Child. (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia) Geographic data Surface: 6, 0 square kilometers. Height above sea level: 224 meters. Min. height: 29 meters. Max. Height: 262 meters. Altimetric difference: 233 meters.

Population and Statistical data Population density: 289, 17 inhabitants per square kilometer. Population on 1991: 1. 495 inhabitants Population on 2001: 1. 735 inhabitants. Percentual variation: 16, 05%. Families: 595. Medium value of the components of a generic family: 2, 92 people. Workers: 638 people, that is the 36, 77% of the inhabitants of the town of Santa Maria Imbaro. Industries: Services: Administration: Others: 42 37 5 28 Workers: 309 96 144 89 Percentual value: 48, 43% 15, 05% 22, 57% 13, 95%

Sorroundings municipalities and hamlets of Santa Maria Imbaro The municipality of Santa Maria Imbaro is surrounded by the following 3 municipalities. These latter are reported ordererd by increasing distances from Santa Maria Imbaro. Town Santa Maria Imbaro Surrounding towns Mozzagrogna (CH) Fossacesia (CH) Paglieta (CH) Distance Km. 0. 8 Km. 3. 8 Km. 7. 2 In the territory of Santa Maria Imbaro also rise the villages of Borgata Fattore (0, 86 km), Borgata Fattore I (1, 28 km), Borgata Fattore II (1, 53 km), Borgata Perilli (1, 42 km), Colli (0, 98 km), Fattore (3, 34 km), Perilli (0, 35 km). Events & Festivities First half of August: Feast of the Saint Patron of the town.

MOZZAGROGNA (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia) Mozzagrogna is a town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Situated on a crest dominating the lower Sangro valley, this small centre with its strange name (derived from one of its lords). It is surrounded by a rich agricultural landscape. (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia) History The early name was Villa Schiavone, and originated from a colony of Slavic refugees who made their new homes here in the XVI century, after narrowly escaping the Turks in their native land. The village suffered heavy damages during the Second World War.

Points of Interest Beautiful Villa Marcantonio, designed by architect Adolfo Coppedé in the early XX century. the Castello di Septe (Fonte Originally from it. wikipedia) Geographic data Surface: 13, 7 square kilometers. Height above sea level: 223 meters. Min. height: 28 meters. Max. Height: 290 meters. Altimetric difference: 262 meters.

Population and Statistical data Density population: 150, 36 inhabitants per square kilometer. Population in 1991: 1. 975 inhabitants - Population in 2001: 2. 060 inhabitants. Percentual variation: 4, 30%. Families: 715. Medium value of the components of a generic family: 2, 88 people. Workers: 506 people, that is the 24, 56% of the inhabitants of the town of Mozzagrogna. Industries: Services: Administration: Others: 34 39 6 33 Workers: 58 123 139 86 Percentual value: 31, 23% 24, 31% 27, 47% 17, 00%

Sorroundings municipalities and hamlets of Mozzagrogna The municipality of Mozzagrogna is surrounded by the following 4 municipalities. These latter are reported ordererd on the increasing distances from Mozzagrogna. Town Mozzagrogna Surrounding towns Santa Maria Imbaro (CH) Fossacesia (CH) Lanciano (CH) Paglieta (CH) Distance Km. 0. 8 Km. 4. 5 Km. 5. 1 Km. 6. 8 In the territory of Mozzagrogna also rise the villages of Castel di Septe (4, 31 km), Castel di Septe I (4, 80 km), Castelli (1, 04 km), Cavezza (1, 92 km), Fonte della Noce (2, 56 km), La Cornice (1, 40 km), Lucianetti (1, 71 km), Rosciavizza (1, 85 km), Villa Romagnoli (1, 84 km). Events & Festivities July: Truffle Pasta Festival 16 August: Feast of San Rocco September: Grapes festival

VILLA ROMAGNOLI Fonti: UNPLI Chieti – PRO LOCO V. Romagnoli The origins Villa Romagnoli is the most populous hamlet of Mozzagrogna’s village and it is located in a very favourable geographical position; it enjoys both the influence and the landscape of the sea, which is far away just a few kilometres, and the Majella mountain. In the past, Villa Romagnoli was called Santa Vittoria like its own church, but still today the true origins of the name are obscures. The most endangered hypotesis is that the name of the patron Saint of Villa Romagnoli, la Madonna della Vittoria, is referred to the Lepanto fight of 1571, during which the Christian fleet defeated the Ottoman one; in relation to this fight, a legend is known : the captain of the Christian battalion had a dream about La Madonna della Vittoria, who suggested him the right way in order to ambush the enemies. Obviously it is only a legend, but it is deeply established in the minds of many people.

In the main square of Villa Romagnoli it is possible to see the church of la Madonna della Vittoria. This old church was built by Berardino and Simone Romagnoli in 1741, after receiving the approval of the King of two Sicilies, Carlo III of Borbone. Actually, the extended name of the patron Saint of Villa Romagnoli should be “Beata Maria Vergine della Vittoria” or “Nostra Signora della Vittoria”. However, for a brevity question, She has always been called Madonna della Vittoria. As the name suggests, the church was built to celebrate a victory. The historians think the victory refers to the victory of the Christians against the Turks during the Lepanto battle on the 7 th of October 1571. In that occasion, like many other difficult moments of the village, the parish church organized some prayers and rosaries to encourage and support the soldiers during the war.

SAINT GENNARO The small church dedicated to San Gennaro has very old origins. It dates back to the Fifteenth Century, during which the Abruzzo region belonged to the Naples Reign, under which it remained for around 7 centuries. Gennaro was born in Naples in the third Century from an aristocratic family. Thus Gennaro cannot be a name, rather it is a surname which indicates the belonging to an aristocratic stock: “gens Iaunaria". Gennaro was the Bishop of Benevento during the persecution of Diocleziano against the Christians THE ASTA OF IL PURGATORIO Il Purgatorio has very old roots dated back after the year one thousand, even if some experts place it between 1150 and 1250.

The doctrine of Il Purgatorio was firstly defined in 1274, then in 1438 and finally by the Trento’s Council in 1563. It states that people who die in the grace of God without being completely purified, are subjected, after they die, to a purification in order to obtain the needed sanctity to enter in Heaven. The asta of Il Purgatorio is a tradition linked to the Lent’s period, which takes place on the Sunday before the Palm Sunday in the square of Villa Romagnoli. In the past and until some years ago, were just sold products made up at home as soap (made up by the oldest women of the village), corn, eggs and wine.