The village was owned by Lothair, nephew of Charlemagne, from whom it would derive its name as Lotaresco – “land of Lothair”. From the medieval period, when the village became important for its defensive structure, there remains a clear imprint in the conformation of the dwellings, which are distinguished by their thick walls and tall, narrow windows.
On your walk, stop at the seat of the Town Hall, the Palazzo degli Acquaviva dukes of Atri, who held the feud since 1308 in co-ownership with Trasmondo III di Castelvecchio, and at the Porta Castellana, another testimony of ancient medieval glory. You can also admire Palazzo De Vincenzi, an example of 19th-century civil architecture where Giuseppe De Vincenzi was born. He was the forerunner of mechanical ploughing of the land, planted the first specialised vineyards and patented several grape processing systems.
In the highest part of the village, then, you will come across the peculiar square with its chequered paving: who knows, maybe you could organise a living game in a medieval setting that will make you feel even more like kings, queens, bishops or knights!
A visit to the Abbey of San Clemente al Vomano, reportedly built in the 9th century at the behest of Ermengarda, daughter of Emperor Ludovico II, is a must. In Romanesque style, it is striking for the beauty of its portal and its 12th-century ciborium, among the oldest and most monumental in Abruzzo.
Continuing in the footsteps of the important testimonies of the past, reach the ruins of a large production centre for wine, oil and ‘garum’ from the Italic-Roman period in the Piana dei Cesari and the “G. Romualdi” Archaeological Museum, which houses the artefacts found at the archaeological site of Grasciano, dating back to the Neolithic period.
For a gastronomic stop, we suggest savouring the traditional local dishes, including a particular version of the classic Teramo timballo, which here becomes timballo di scrippelle notareschino: while the former alternates layers of crepe and layers of ragù with meatballs, here the sauce is put inside the crepe, rolled up and placed in a pan. Delicious.
Accompany these delicacies with a pearl from Notaresco, which is in fact the City of Wine: the Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG, a red wine that will delight your palate between one bite and the next.
