Probably the village was also inhabited in the Mesolithic period (about 2000 years earlier), as recent excavations have shown.
The name Corropoli, instead, has Roman origins: it derives from “Collis Ruppuli“, that is “Colle di Ripoli”.
A famous find, now preserved in the Civic Archaeological Museum of Teramo, was discovered here: the tomb of the “woman with the dog”, a series of atavistic human and animal bones, joined and preserved together for eternity, which will arouse great emotion.
Later, the Romans, who erected temples and residences there, the Benedictine, Celestine and Franciscan monks, who built monumental convents and monasteries, and the Acquaviva family, who made more prestigious the historical centre and the baronial Palace, came in succession. The current square, known as Piazza Piè di Corte to emphasise its position at the “foot of the court”, was built on the ruins of the Palace around 1830. It houses the 17th-century bell tower, embellished with refined majolica bricks, the central fountain and the Church of St Joseph. At the side of the square is the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), built by the Ricci family in the mid-19th century.
Also, the Parish Church of Saint Agnes, or ‘Sanctuary of the Madonna of Holy Saturday’, built in the 14th century on a pre-existing chapel, deserves a visit. It is said that in 1765 the people of Corropoli, stricken by a terrible plague, moved the 14th-century statue to the Church so that they could venerate it at that difficult time.
For lunch or dinner, a triumph of gastronomic specialities awaits you: inviting traditional dishes that you can enjoy at the Sagra dei piatti tipici e delle specialità della Val Vibrata, which takes place every year at the beginning of August.
And remember that the village, in addition to having been awarded the Yellow Flag for its offer on the theme of camper van tourism, is a City of Wine: a taste of a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is therefore a must.
A not-to-be-missed event is the Palio delle botti, a historical re-enactment of the Celestine Pentecost that colours the town on the last weekend of July and involves the entire town. The town’s quarters compete in rolling 70 kg barrels along an uphill course; the race is then followed by the Renaissance re-enactment. This could be the perfect time to visit Corropoli!