Terramane

Mosciano Sant’Angelo

From the depths of medieval origins to the wonder of modernity

"The Benedictine monks, attracted by the tranquillity and amenity of the site, built the monastery of St. Angelo, with the annexed church, around which stood dwellings surrounded by crenellated walls, which formed a small castle, with a wide and deep moat, a single entrance gate and a drawbridge".

This is how historian Vincenzo Bindi spoke of the origins of Mosciano Sant’Angelo. Year 897.

We recommend a tour of the heart of the town, to catch a glimpse of part of the medieval walls and towers that outline Mosciano’s profile: Torre Acquaviva, erected in 1397, the most beautiful with its ancient battlements, Torre Cardelli with a hexagonal plan, the adjacent Torre del Belvedere, Torre Marini with a square plan, and Torre Zeda, a circular tower linked to the gateway to the old town.

Among the religious monuments, the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, built between 1828 and 1841, stands out: admire the stucco works by the sculptor Domenico Farnese of Ascoli and the paintings by Berardino dei Conti Delfico and Gennaro della Monica.

The Church of the Holy Rosary is very impressive: its construction was authorised in 1852 by Frederick King of the Two Sicilies: the brick structure has a circular plan, with a distinctive dome designed by the architect Giuseppe Lupi, inspired by the Roman Pantheon.

Among the alleys and ancient buildings, you will be amazed by the presence of more than 30 murals, created thanks to Visione Periferica, the Urban Art Festival that brought street art into dialogue with the past.

Leaving the town, plan a stop in the Colle Leone district, at the Colle Leone Astronomical Observatory, with Planetarium and Natural History Museum, to be fascinated by the magic of the sky and curiosities about fossils, minerals and meteorites.

And then visit the 9th-century Convent of the Seven Holy Brothers and the Sanctuary of Saint Mary of the Angels, with a fine 17th-century wooden ceiling, special frescoes in the cloister lunettes and 17th-century wooden statues.

Continue your walk to the village of Montone, a hamlet of Mosciano, from which you can admire the splendid view from the sea to the Gran Sasso mountains. In the Middle Ages, until 1390, it was the seat of a university and, between the 13th and 14th centuries, was fortified with city walls of which three towers remain.

Tired after the tour? Recover your energy with a plate of timballo alla teramana, made with egg and flour crepe served with meat sauce, or with “scrippelle ‘mbusse”, crepe sprinkled with grated cheese, rolled and dipped in a meat broth.