Magliano (Torricella Sicura)
Encyclopedia
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region of Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
. It is a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Torricella Sicura
Torricella Sicura
Torricella Sicura is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".-Geography:...
, in the Province of Teramo
Province of Teramo
The Province of Teramo is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of 1,948 km², a population of 296,063 , and is subdivided into 47 comunes , see Comunes of the Province of Teramo...
.
Geography
The village is divided into two parts, Magliano da Piedi (Lower Magliano) and Magliano da Capo (Upper Magliano). Upper Magliano today consists only of three large uninhabited villas and boasts a spectacular panorama. One of the villas likely dates back to the 16th century. The two other dwellings have identical small portals and were likely constructed in the late 18th century or the early years of the successive century. At the time of a 1981 census Magliano consisted of only 13 families living in 11 residences and had a population of 35 including 18 males and 17 females. Eleven homes (consisting of 42 rooms) were occupied and fourteen homes (consisting of 41 rooms) were empty.History
The earliest known records regarding the village date back to 1026 when "Maliano" is mentioned in the context of holdings that Guiberto di Teutone offered to Pietro II, who at that time was the bishop of Teramo-Atri.In 1056 the area was a church holding occupied by members of the Totoneschi family.
In 1062, Guido di Pietro and Tisone di Longino (nicknamed "Il Corvo" - The Raven) gave their holdings in this area to the Catholic Church.
In 1076 Teutone V, donated his holdings in Magliano to the church.
In 1323 the local chrurch, San Lorenzo in Magliano, was declared a rectorate.
In 1371 local census records indicate that the Church of San Lorenzo was required to make contributions to higher authorities both in livestock and money.
From 1611 to 1614 Magliano was classified a church parish and hosted a Benedictine Abbey. About 100 people lived nearby at the time.
Later the area of Magliano was subdivided into several "Università agrarie" (an ancient term given to the various communes comprising a large domain). One of these was Terra Morricana Montagna, which consisted of Magliano and Faognano as well as parts of Acquaratola and Poggio Valle. A second "Università agrarie" was made up of Valle Piola
Valle Piola
Valle Piola is a deserted village in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Torricella Sicura. Having been abandoned in 1977, all that remains are 9 abandoned houses, a church, and the ruins of a shepherds' shelter...
as well as other portions of Magliano, Acquaratola e Poggio Valle.
Chiesa Vecchia (The Old Church)
The ancient church, now only a pile of rubble located on a hill near the town cemetery, dates back at least to the 14th century. In medieval times this parish church fell under the auspices of a monastery, San Pietro ad Azzanum in nearby IoanellaIoanella
Ioanella is a frazione of the Commune of Torricella Sicura in the Province of Teramo, Italy-History:Some believe that the origins of the name Ioanella derive from the Latin ioaria or iuaria in reference to a small feudal holding within which a given judicial body had authority...
.
In a 1681 description of San Lorenzo the church is said to have a main altar with columns, a tapestry depicting a scene from the life of San Francesco, and frescoes (dated 1481) on the cupola and the small baptismal font. In another description of the church dating back to 1614 mention is made of an oratory with a statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. San Lorenzo at this time was classified as a parish serving Magliano, Faognano and Pomarolo. In the middle of the 19th century local religious services were conducted in the chapel of the noble De Dominicis family. Near the church is a small graveyard that was in use through the middle of the 20th century. Today ceremonies are still conducted at this location on the Italian holiday honoring the deceased (Festa dei Morti).
Chiesa Nuova (The New Church)
The new San Lorenzo church, belonging to the parish of Borgonovo, was eventually constructed in the area lying between Magliano e Faognano."the Saracen Wall"
Located near the old San Lorenzo church this terraced wall juts out over the Vezzola valley. Legend has it that this wall was constructed as a means of defense against invading Saracen invaders. If this was its original purpose, it did not function well in this regard however and any defenders of the land in the area must have been defeated and castle(s) which might have stood nearby razed to the ground.Another possibility is that the wall was constructed as a sanctuary during the era in which the Romans were in the process of conquering theindigenous Pretuti tribespeople. The area may have served as the place of worship for an ancient cult before conversion by the Christian leaders and the eventual construction of the San Lorenzo church.
The wall is made of giant sandstone blocks and is still in good condition. It has a length of about 50 feet (15.2 m) and stands approximately 10 feet (3 m) in height. The terrace standing behind the wall boasts a spectacular view of the entire Vezzola Valley as far away as the barely visible settlement of Albata.