Martese
Encyclopedia
Martese is a "frazione
" (i.e., suburb) in the Commune
of Rocca Santa Maria
in the Province of Teramo
.
The village sits at an elevation of approximately 3270 feet above sea level. The distance by car to Rocca Santa Maria is less than one mile. The infrequently used road between these two towns is steep and rather primitive. It can be found just off the provincial highway (SP 48) that leads from Teramo to Ceppo via Rocca Santa Maria
and Bosco Martese. The old town center is composed of a small cluster of houses. As was the custom of the day a small church sits nearby and off to itself.
Martese can be found at the top of a promontory overlooking the high Tordino
Valle and lies in the heart of the Abruzzo
territory known as Monti della Laga
within the Italian Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
. From the town center one can see the two mountain chains that run through this rugged area.
In the waning days of feudalism
, the Bishopric of Teramo came to have a great many land holdings in the area which were collectively went by the appellation State of Bisegno. These church holdings were divided into thirteen communes, each of which at the time referred to as a Università. One of these was Rocca Santa Maria
. The Rocca Santa Maria commune was composed of 16 small villages as follows: Canili (pop 31); Fustagnano (pop 25); Martisi (today Martese, pop 62); Taudero (today Tavolero, pop 160), Colle (pop 29); Ciarelli (pop 380), Paranisi (today Paranesi, pop 34), Alvelli (pop 19), Luciano (today Licciano, pop 32); Fiume (pop 50); Riano (pop 69); Tevere (pop 33); Cesa (pop 37); Castiglione (pop 6); Fioli (pop 150); and Forno (pop 150).
In 1804 Martese had 62 inhabitants. In 1813 the village, previously part of the feudal holding of Rocca Santa Maria
, remained under the jurisdiction of Rocca Santa Maria when it became a commune in the Province of Teramo
. By 1841 the population of Martese had fallen to 55. Today the village is a ghosttown and awaits revitalization.
and Tavolero
) chosen by the Province of Teramo
as sites for future touristic development. As part of this large scale project data related to the architectural, environment, and touristic aspects of more than 50 nearby villages and locals were systematically gathered and painstakingly analyzed before deciding upon the exact locations to be developed. These three villages were chosen for their authenticity, representativeness, and overall potential with regard to the criteria that had been established by the provincial authorities.
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...
" (i.e., suburb) in the Commune
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 Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the nGran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.The municipal seat is in the frazione of Imposte....
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...
.
The village sits at an elevation of approximately 3270 feet above sea level. The distance by car to Rocca Santa Maria is less than one mile. The infrequently used road between these two towns is steep and rather primitive. It can be found just off the provincial highway (SP 48) that leads from Teramo to Ceppo via Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the nGran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.The municipal seat is in the frazione of Imposte....
and Bosco Martese. The old town center is composed of a small cluster of houses. As was the custom of the day a small church sits nearby and off to itself.
Martese can be found at the top of a promontory overlooking the high Tordino
Tordino
Tordino is a river flowing in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. In Roman times it was known as "Batinus".The source of the Tordino is located between Mount Gorzano and Pelone. After a course of 58 kilometers, it flows into the Adriatic Sea...
Valle and lies in the heart of the 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...
territory known as Monti della Laga
Monti della Laga
Monti della Laga is a mountain range in the central Apennines, Italy. Their ruggedness and inaccessibility makes them one of the lesser known areas of the Italian peninsula.-Geography:...
within the Italian Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park in Italy, which was established in 1991. It has an area of 2,014 square kilometres...
. From the town center one can see the two mountain chains that run through this rugged area.
In the waning days of feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
, the Bishopric of Teramo came to have a great many land holdings in the area which were collectively went by the appellation State of Bisegno. These church holdings were divided into thirteen communes, each of which at the time referred to as a Università. One of these was Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the nGran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.The municipal seat is in the frazione of Imposte....
. The Rocca Santa Maria commune was composed of 16 small villages as follows: Canili (pop 31); Fustagnano (pop 25); Martisi (today Martese, pop 62); Taudero (today Tavolero, pop 160), Colle (pop 29); Ciarelli (pop 380), Paranisi (today Paranesi, pop 34), Alvelli (pop 19), Luciano (today Licciano, pop 32); Fiume (pop 50); Riano (pop 69); Tevere (pop 33); Cesa (pop 37); Castiglione (pop 6); Fioli (pop 150); and Forno (pop 150).
In 1804 Martese had 62 inhabitants. In 1813 the village, previously part of the feudal holding of Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the nGran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.The municipal seat is in the frazione of Imposte....
, remained under the jurisdiction of Rocca Santa Maria when it became a commune 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...
. By 1841 the population of Martese had fallen to 55. Today the village is a ghosttown and awaits revitalization.
Project Borghi (Burgs)
Martese today is one of three villages (the other two being SerraSerra (Rocca Santa Maria)
Serra is a "frazione" of the Commune of Rocca Santa Maria in the Province of Teramo in Abruzzo, Italy. The village sits at an elevation of 3596 feet above sea level in the area of Monti della Laga within the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.The village likely takes its name from the...
and Tavolero
Tavolero
Tavolero, is a "frazione" of the Communal town of Rocca Santa Maria in the Province of Teramo. It is located in the area known as Monti della Laga and sits within the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park...
) chosen by 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...
as sites for future touristic development. As part of this large scale project data related to the architectural, environment, and touristic aspects of more than 50 nearby villages and locals were systematically gathered and painstakingly analyzed before deciding upon the exact locations to be developed. These three villages were chosen for their authenticity, representativeness, and overall potential with regard to the criteria that had been established by the provincial authorities.
External links
- Sito web su Martese In Italian
- Pagina web dedicata a Martese In Italian
- Serie di foto sul borgo di Martese In Italian
- Video sui borghi abbandonati della Laga tra i quali Martese In Italian
- Una foto autunnale di Martese In Italian
- Una foto estiva di Martese In Italian
