Caramanico Terme

Comune in Abruzzo, Italy

Caramanico Terme
Comune
Comune di Caramanico Terme

Coat of arms of Caramanico Terme Coat of arms
Location of Caramanico Terme Map
Caramanico Terme is located in Italy Caramanico Terme Caramanico Terme Location of Caramanico Terme in Italy Show map of Italy Caramanico Terme is located in Abruzzo Caramanico Terme Caramanico Terme Caramanico Terme (Abruzzo) Show map of Abruzzo
Coordinates: 42°09′N 14°0′E / 42.150°N 14.000°E / 42.150; 14.000
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	Pescara (PE)
Frazioni	De Contra, San Nicolao, San Tommaso, San Vittorino, Santa Croce, Sant'Elia, Scagnano
Government
• Mayor	Franco Parone (Rinascita)
Area ^[1]
• Total	84.55 km² (32.64 sq mi)
Elevation	650 m (2,130 ft)
Population (2010)^[2]
• Total	2,030
• Density	24/km² (62/sq mi)
Demonym	Caramanichesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	65023
Dialing code	085
Website	Official website

Caramanico Terme is a comune and town in the province of Pescara, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Nestled on a hilltop, it lies near the confluence of the Orfento and Orta rivers, between the Monte Morrone and Majella mountains.^[3] It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").^[4]

History

[edit ]

invernal view of Caramanico Terme

The town takes its name from cara, meaning rock and/or arimannia, a Lombard establishment in the late Middle Ages. Then the name Terme was added in 1960 because of the presence of a spa nearby.^[5]^[6]

The present settlement is recorded since Lombard times. Then it underwent a remarkable development in the 14th-15th centuries, under the D'Aquino family, and in that period many important monuments were built. In 1706, an earthquake nearby destroyed the town.

Main sights

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the Salle castle

Church of S. Maria Maggiore (15th century), with a Gothic exterior and an ogival portal with a depiction of the Coronation of the Virgin (1476). The exterior has also depictions of apostles, pilgrims and singers with 15th century musical instruments. The Assumption Chapel (17th century) has a Baroque interior.
Romanesque church of St. Tommaso, founded in the 13th century in honor of Thomas of Canterbury. It was built above a 9th-century pieve. It has a nave and two aisles, with different levels. The façade has a rose window and single mullioned windows, three portals and four semi-colons from a never built portico. The side portals have with floreal decorations, while the central one has a high-relief of the Twelve Apostles and Christ Enthroned (1118). The interior, with a nave and aisles divided by composite columns (right) and square columns (left). The interior houses also a Corinthian column (known as Colonna santa) which has alleged miraculous properties.
Archaeological Museum "P. Barrasso"
Museum of Abruzzo and Italy Fauna
Hermitage of San Giovanni all'Orfento