Celano

province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

The place

Situated on a hill that once dominated Lake Fucino, the largest lake in central Italy drained in the latter part of the 19th century, overlooks now the fertile Fucino Basin. The ancient part is grouped round the castle, where the powerful Counts of Celano lived. The place if definitely worth seeing for trekking enthusiasts: in the direction of Ovindoli there's one of the most spectactular landscape in Abruzzo, the Gole di Celano.

Information:

Altitude: 800 m a.s.l -- Distance from L'Aquila: 65 km -- Population: ca. 10000 inhabitants -- Zip code: -- Phone Area Code: -- How to reach it:

History:

Two important historians of the area, Muzio Febonio and prof. Corsignani, believed that Celano originated from the ancient Equi town Cliternum, but this opinion has since then been demonstrated wrong, when the ruins of Cliternum were found near Capradosso, province of Rieti. Actually the name Celano comes from Cele, Coele, Coelanum and later Caelanum - the name appears in an inscription in the forum of Marruvium (near San Benedetto dei Marsi) in the second half of the 2nd century A.D. and still today there is a little hamlet "Cèle" (territory of Aielli), just left of the famous "Gole". Prehistoric remains date back to 18,000 years ago, as confirmed by the remains of the palafict village today kept in the Archeological Museum in Celano.
In Roman times the vicus Caelanum had an important strategic role, being right on the via Valeria and along the Fucinum Lacum, and maintained a remarkable role also after the fall of the ROman empire, as shown by the Lombard settlements of Secuntiano, Oretino e Porciano. Moreover, the lake kame in later times to be known as "Celano Lake".
The early medieval town, originally on the top of the Monte Tino, was destroyed in 1223 by Frederick II, and the inhabitants rebuilt their houses where Celano still rises today. The County of Celano belonged to many feudal lords, among whom Lionello Acclazamora, the Piccolominis, the Perettis, the Savellis and lastly Sforza-Cabrera-Bodavillas. As many other centres in the Fucino basin, Celano was heavily hit by an earthquake on 13 January 1915, which claimed thousands of lives in the Marsica and utterly destroyed many centres.
Today Celano is a lively agricultural and industrial center, with modern sports facilities and a growing cultural tourism aimed at the rich artistic and historical past and the natural beauty of the surrounding territory.
(info by courtesy of Lino Di Renzo)

Sights & Excursions

Castello Piccolomini: the construction was started in 1392 by the Count of Celano and finished one century later by Antonio Piccolomini, whose name was given to the castle.
Chiesa di S. Giovanni Battista
Chiesa di S. Angelo
Chiesa di S. Francesco
Chiesa di S. Maria Valleverde, founded in the XII century, which contains precious works of art
Gole di Celano: a 5km-long canyon created by carsic erosion due to the Foce river. The majestic rock walls are at certain points only 3 m away. It also seems a group of Marsican bears live in the vicinity.

Events & Festivities

16-17 January Festa di S. Antonio, with bonfires in the squaare
First week in August Truffle festival
242526 August Feast of SS. Martiri

Hotels, Lodging, Restaurants

HOTEL LORY

Genealogy, News & Links

People researching in Celano

Newspaper articles on Celano
Genealogy Research in Celano: a record of 120 family surnames related to the Paris line directly and by marriage, arranged in family groups. Contact Sarsfield McNulty for sharing info on any of these names in Celano and vicinity, and USA connections.