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Guardiagrele is a beautiful town built on the highest hill around the plains of Grele, with many homes set on the side of the hill. The territory of the town starts at 150 meters a.s.l. and reaches to 1,750 meters at its highest point, creating a striking cascade of history. The famous poet Gabriele D'Annunzio describes it as the "Terrace of Abruzzo" because of its important position at the foot of the Maiella mountain and its command of the view all the way to the Adriatic sea.


Elevation: 580 m above sea level
Population: 9,800
Zip code: 66016
City hall phone number: 0871 8086218
Official city website: http://www.comune.guardiagrele.ch.it/

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
The name of the town derives from when the inhabitants of a nearby primitive village in the plains of "Grele" moved up to the top of the hill to safety following the Barbarian invasions, therefore "guarding or looking over Grele". This primitive village is marked by the ruins of a fountain. In Roman times the inhabited area was called Aelion. Many artifacts and remains have been found in a nearby necropolis known as Còmino, which indicate the inhabitation of the area dates back to pre-Roman times. About 40 tombs have been uncovered there, one of the latest being a 3000-year-old warrior with a 2 foot long bronze sword with a decorated sheath, a fibula, a razor and four pots. These artifacts are on display at the "Museo Archeologico" on the ground floor of the municipal building (Piazza San Francesco).

Guardiagrele as it is today was first documented in the mid-1100's when the castle was built. It was inhabited by bell-makers, blacksmiths and goldsmiths, the most famous of which was Nicola di Andrea Galucci, otherwise known as Nicola da Guardiagrele (b c. 1395; died before 1462) whose works are displayed in a number of churches throughout Italy. He is most famous for the crosses he made and the reliefs with intricately carved figures. The lunette on the church of Santa Maria Maggiore boasts one of his works. Nowadays the town is still popular for its artisan goldsmiths, wrought iron, coppersmiths, ceramics, and for its filigree jewelry. The most famous form of jewelry in this area is the "presentosa" which was presented to future brides like an engagement ring. It is star-shaped with two hearts in the center, linked by a half-moon, surrounded by spiral filigree and tears of passion.

The town also had its own mint as early as the 14th century and was a rich place because of its location on the border between the territory of the Marrucini with the capital being Chieti and that of the Frentani with the capital being Lanciano. Guardiagrele was a market centre where peasants, cattle-breeders and farmers came to sell their produce and to buy tools for their work and homes. Besides Nicola da Guardiagrele the town gave birth to many more famous people, such as poet Modesto Della Porta.

A visit to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore is of noteworthy historical importance. This church was originally built in 430 AD on the ruins of a temple, then renovated by the Benedectine monks in the 12th century. After being further improved in the 13th and 14th centuries, it was entirely redone after an earthquake in the 18th century. Many of the important features of the church (e.g., the façade, the bell tower, the portal) date back to the 12th-14th centuries and have been left intact and/or renovated.

Some special and traditional Guardiese dishes are: soup with Majella herbs and spelt (farro), "tranette" with lard, "strozzacavalli" pasta, "braciole" made with horse meat, meat and liver sausages (both fresh and cured), "mattarelli" or "salsicce di panza" prepared with pork stomach, meatballs with chili pepper cooked in earthenware pots, "scamorze" cheese, Caprafico lentils, ricotta and honey cake, torrone, maritozzi, "sospiri" (sighs), salted cookies called "pasticcie", fiadoncini made with cheese and eggs, and the "tre monti" cake (also called "Sise delle Monache") available in the two pastry shops along via Roma (secret recipe).

WHAT TO SEE:

  • Church of Santa Maria Maggiore: The asymmetrical facade made from Majella stone. The belltower dates back to the 13th century, and is one of the oldest in Abruzzo. The interior is Baroque, and is home to the "Museo del Duomo" where many pieces of "sacred art" can be seen, including the remains of the celebrated silver cross by Nicola da Guardiagrele, dismembered and stolen in 1979, most of which has been recovered and placed back intact.
  • Church of San Francesco, with a fine 14th century sarcophagus in red Verona marble
  • Tomb of WWI hero Andrea Bafile, in a cave at the end of Bocca di Valle, decorated with majolica ceramic tiles made by Basilio and Tommaso Cascella
  • Excursions to the Parco Nazionale della Majella, the woods in the "Piana delle Mele" and "Valle delle Monache", to the waterfalls at Cascata San Giovanni
  • Museo Archeologico on the ground floor of the municipal building (Piazza San Francesco), run by the Archeoclub d’Italia, open for visits by appointment (call 0871/800460 or 330/686831)

FESTIVALS:

  • Third Sunday in May: Festival of San Nicola Greco and Sant'Antonio
  • Every 25 years the remains of Saint Nicola Greco, kept in Guardiagrele since 7 august 1338, leave the church of San Francesco for the Jubilee. For the occasion the balconies of via della Penna are embellished with crocheted and embroidered blankets. The last Jubilee was in the year 2000.
  • In July: Majella Festival (in honour of Abruzzesi lost in war)
  • August 1st-20th: Market of Abruzzo Arts and Crafts (Mostra Mercato Artigianato d’Abruzzo)
  • August 6th-8th: Festival of patron saints San Donato and San Emidio
  • In August: "Premio di Poesia Modesta della Porta", contest for dialect poetry in memory of the greatest Abruzzese vernacular poet Modesto della Porta from Guardiagrele
  • Third Sunday in October: Festa di San Rocco and Maria SS. del Popolo.
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