Abruzzo News: 26 November 1999

In the will of late archbishop Peressin's also a bronze statue by celebrated Greek sculptor Prassitele (4th century B.C.). The will does not explain the origin of the work, but disposes it shall be donated to the Musei vaticani with the only condition that a plaque be placed saying it was donated by Monsignor Peressin and an American doctor.

Two weeks before the traditional opening of the skiing season for a possibly second resord season. Snowfall was heavy, and the ski-slopes are ready at Aremogna, almost ready at Valleverde, Gravare and Macchione. Still closed Montepratello and already booked Roccaraso and Rivisondoli hotels. Problems only for the management of the Pescasseroli skiing facilities.

Simple, traditional stone carving for the new Lettomanoppello fountains. Antonella Conte from Rome created a simple stele placed around a well at Bivio di Lettomanoppello; at Largo Assunta lettese Giovanni Di Pietrantonio restored an abandoned cavity in a wall with a traditional basin, mask and putto. In piazza Umberto I Petronio Del Ponte created a structure in "paglierina" stone. Finally Aquilan Pasquale Liberatore, restored the sulphurous water fountain ("l'acqua a zolf") at Santa Liberata taking inspiration from sheperds' thòloi, creating a curved figure in the attitude of collecting water in a container.

The Carabinieri yesterday recovered the wooden statues of the angels and Child stolen last September at San Pietro e Paolo, Campovalano, which will be given back to parish priest don Marco Trevisonne. The statues of the Madonna, St. Peter and St. Paul had already been recovered. The carabinieri think the theft was ordered by a network of criminal art dealers who aim at little-protected Abruzzese churches.