Abruzzo Today - Carunchio

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Carunchio

Carunchio

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Carunchio is a tiny village set on a hill, with the most important palaces in the old town center at the top, and the rest of the town cascading down the side of the hill, giving the town a cozy beehive look from afar. It has long been considered the sentinel of the Treste valley. It is mostly an agricultural town now, and many of the youth have moved away to larger towns for work.

Province: Chieti (CH)
Altitude: 715 m above sea level
Population: 750
Zip code: 66050
City hall phone number: 0873 954392
Official city website: http://www.carunchio.net/
How to get there:
From motorway A14: Take SS650 (a.k.a. Trignina) toward Isernia. After the first tunnel, exit to Carunchio (this is the second exit that mentions Carunchio). Follow signs for approximately 9 km up to the town.
From Isernia: Take SS650 toward San Salvo. Take first exit to Carunchio.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
Carunchio got its first mention in papal documents as early as 1173, and was called Carunca, a variation of Carruba, which means "plough" in antique dialect. Not suprisingly, the lords of the area were agriculturally inclined, and before feudalism was abolished there were feuds between the families of Carunchio and the Caracciolo family of Villa Santa Maria, the D'Avalos family of Vasto, and the Marinelli family of Agnone.

WHAT TO SEE:

Church of San Giovanni Battista (15th century, restored in 18th century) with famous 17th century organ
Ruins of Palazzo Castelli (only the outside is viewable)
Church of the purgatorio - mediaval portal and affrescos inside
Porta Coluccia - what remains of the old city walls

WHERE TO STAY: