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Teramo
Comune
Città di Teramo
Palazzo Castelli.
Location of Teramo
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	Teramo (TE)
Frazioni	See list
Government
• Mayor	Maurizio Brucchi (since June, 2009)
Area
• Total	151.88 km (58.64 sq mi)
Elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Population
• Total	55,106
• Density	360/km (940/sq mi)
Demonym	Teramani
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	64100
Dialing code	0861
Patron saint	Saint Berardo
Saint day	December 19
Website	Official website

Teramo listen is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.

The city, 150 km from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines (Gran Sasso d’Italia) and the Adriatic coast. The town is located by the confluence of the Vezzola and Tordino rivers.

The economy of the town is mostly based on activities connected with agriculture and commerce, as well as a sound industrial sector: textiles, foods, engineering, building materials and ceramics. Teramo can be reached from the A14 the A24 motorways.

Climate

The climate is fresh-temperate. In the coolest month (January) temperatures average 5.5°C, and in the warmest month (July) they average 24°C. In the winter time though they can experience copious amounts of snowfall, as in 2005. The precipitations are not frequent and mostly concentrated in late spring. The summers are characterized by days of somewhat intense heat.

Name

Interamna (Greek: Template:Polytonic: Eth. Interamnas, Interamnātis), was the name of several cities in different parts of Italy. Its etymology, already pointed out by Varro and Festus, indicates their position at the confluence of two streams. The form "Interamnium" (Greek: Template:Polytonic), and the ethnic form Interamnis, are also found, but more rarely. The name referred to the two rivers Vezzola and Tordino, between which it lies.

The name is already corrupted in extant manuscripts of the Liber Coloniarum into Teramne, whence its modern form of Teramo. But in the Middle Ages it appears to have been known also by the name of Aprutium, supposed to be a corruption of Praetutium, or rather of the name of the people Praetutii, applied (as was so often the case in Gaul) to their chief city. Thus the name Abrutium is present among the cities of Picenum enumerated by the Geographer of Ravenna (iv. 31); and under the Lombards a comes Aprutii is mentioned. The name has been retained in that of Abruzzo, now a region of Italy.

History

Pre Roman Age

A settlement of the 1st millennium BC and some buildings of ancient Italic tribes were the object of archaeological excavations. The most ancient historical remains were found in the outskirts of the city, precisely in the neighborhood Madonna della Cona, where, among many, a burial place with a dagger and a halberd were found. Allegedly, the development of the of the old settlement was due to the commercial center founded by the Etruscan and Phoenician civilization.

According to the Roman author Sextus Julius Frontinus, the ancient Perut or Pretut (meaning "Hill surrounded by waters") strongly developed in dimensions and importance until it became the capital of the Praetutii tribe.

Roman age

In the battle of Sentinum (295 BC), the Romans defied the Italian confederation (Sabellians, Etrusci, Umbri and their allies Gauls, starting the Samnite Wars begin. In 290 BC the Sabine area, along with the Praetutii’s region is occupied by the legions sent by the consul general Manius Curius Dentatus. The city took the Latin name of Interamnia Preatuttorium ("City of the Preaetutii between two rivers"). During the reign of Augustus Interamnia is included in the Picenum district. The area of the current province was divided from south to north into the Ager Hatrianus, Ager Praetutianus and Ager Palmense.

After the Second Social War Interamnia became a municipium. The city lost the status of Municipium because of the participation of Lucius Cornelius Sulla in the Social war (91-88 BC), but the city will subsequently regain it for expressed will of Julius Caesar.

During the Roman age, thanks to its nearness to the capital of the empire, the city lived a prosperous and favorable moment as proven by the numerous mosaics, theater, thermal baths and the amphitheater remains. As historians like Ptolemy, Livy and Pliny remember, the city reached its best period under the emperor Hadrian, with the constructions of the temples dedicated to Mars and Apollo.

Middle Ages

A first destruction of the city in the year 410 by the Visigoths under Alaric I is testified. Even though informations about this age are scanty, the Ostrogoths ruled Interamnia 552-554 AD. Right after the Gothic War (6th century), the city became a Byzantine possession. Teramo is then anew included in the Marchia Firmana, under the Greek Exarchate of Ravenna. The city is now governed by a count of the Marchia Firmana. Later it was a Lombard fief.

In 1129 the city was conquered by the Normans, as part of the County of Apulia. In 1140 it became a possession of Roger II of Sicily, the first King of Sicily. During the strife following the latter's accession, Teramo was destroyed by a Norman force under Robert II of Loritello. Only the tower of Piazza Sant’Anna was saved from this sack; from this moment on it will be called Torre Bruciata (burnt tower). In the 1268 the domination of the House of Hohenstaufen, who had inherited Sicily from Roger II's line, ended, to be replaced by that of the House of Anjou.

The ecclesiastical authority of the Aprutina Diocese, led by the bishops Rainaldo Acquaviva, Niccolò degli Arcioni (1317), Stefano da Teramo (1335) and Pietro di Valle (1366) boosted the city's economy, as witnessed by the construction of castles, churches, cloisters and palaces along with the great privileges granted by the sovereigns.

Renaissance and modern era

The 15th century saw the struggles between the most important families of the city (De Valle and Melatino). The exemplary hanging of 13 followers of Melatino’s family is still remembered in a stone shield in the very center of the city. The monument represents two heads with their tongues out under the writing “A lo parlare agi mesura” (mind what you say).

During the first years of the century, the tyrant Antonello de Valle was assassinated and therefore his castle, which was located in a square known nowadays as Piazza Garibaldi, was demolished. The legend says that the belligerence between the families ended thanks to the women of the city who proclaimed a strike of affection. Despite the internal struggles, the city lived a very developed cultural period in the century. Artists like Jacobello del Fiore and Nicola da Guardiagrele were called to work in the city, which had commercial relationship with Tuscany and Venice.

After the death of Ferdinand II, Charles II of Spain sold Teramo to the Duke of Atri for 40,000 ducats. The people of Teramo rebelled, but in vain. In 1626 Teramo was struck by an earthquake, followed four year later by the plague. The town was sacked by French troops in 1798.

Contemporary age

In 1925 the first Italian Psychoanalytic Society wasfounded in Teramo.

During World War II, on 25 June 1943 German troops arrived in Teramo and proceeded to Bosco Martese where they fought against the men of Resistance movement. The episode will be remembered as “Bosco Martese battle”

In 1972 the first edition of Interamnia World Cup was held.

The University of Teramo was founded in the city in 1993.

Main sights

The city's main attractions include:

• the Cathedral of Saint Berardo, built in 1158 by bishop Guido II, in Romanesque style. It has a portal in Gothic style, finished in 1332 by the Roman master Deodato di Cosma. It houses a silver paliotto by Nicola of Guardagriele (with 35 scenes of the life of Jesus) and a polyptych by the Venetian artist Jacobello del Fiore depicting the Incoronation of the Virgin. Annexed is a 50 m bell tower
• the Romanesque church of Sant'Antonio (1127), with a fine portal. The interior, with a single nave, was renovated along Baroque lines.
• the church of San Getulio, built in the early Middle Ages on the ruins of a Roman temple, finally destroyed in 1155 by the Normans. Only the presbyterium and some Romanesque elements remain of the original building.
• the church of San Domenico (14th century) with a fine Virgin with Child.
• the sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie (also known as Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie). It has a Romanesque cloister and a 15th century miraculous wooden statue of the Virgin, attributed to Silvestro dell'Aquila.
• the Palazzo Vescovile ("Bishops Palace"), from the 14th century.
• the remains of the Roman theatre (built about 30 BCE) and of the amphitheatre (about 3rd-4th century CE).

Culture

An art exhibit, Maggio Festeggiante, is held each May. The summer calendar includes the Teramo Literary Prize and the Interamnia World Cup, an international handball event. A week in October is also dedicated to an international photography of film show.

University of Teramo

The University of Teramo offers 5 faculties, 24 degree courses, 35 Masters, 6 postgraduate schools and 10 departments. The Coste Sant'Agostino Campus holds the faculties of Law, Communication Sciences, and Political Science. The University is living a period of internationalization through offering scholarships to students from all over of the world.

Osservatorio Collurania

The Observatory of Teramo was founded by Vincenzo Cerulli in 1890-1891, and donated to the Italian state in 1891. Starting from 1994, the observatory owns an 80 cm-diameter optical telescope.

Government

At the municipal level, the City of Teramo has a council made up of the mayor and councilmen that are elected every 5 years. In Italy every citizen over 18 has the right to vote.

The current Mayor Maurizio Brucchi was elected in June 2009, as the ex Mayor Gianni Chiodi resigned to be proposed (and then elected) as a candidate of the Abruzzo region president.

Twin towns

Teramo is twinned with:

• Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, since 2005
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Strovolos, Cyprus
• Memmingen, Germany
• Rishon LeZion, Israel
• Berane, Montenegro
• Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland, since 2007

Notable people

People born in or around Teramo include:

• Berardo da Pagliara, (?-1123), bishop and patron saint of the city and diocese
• Melchiorre Delfico, (1744–1835), Enlightenment philosopher
• Melchiorre Delfico, (1825-1895), caricaturist
• Giacinto Pannella, (1847–1927), author
• Vincenzo Cerulli (1859–1927), astronomer
• Ivan Graziani, (1945–1997), singer-songwriter
• Marco Pannella (1930-now), europolitician
• Francesco Possenti, (1838–1861), also known as Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Patron saint of Abruzzo
• Marco Reginelli, (1897–1956) underworld boss
• Felice Centofanti, (1969–present), a former soccer player
• Marco Mordente, (1979–present), Basketball player
• Gianni Di Venanzo, (1920–1966), cinematographer

Neighborhoods of Teramo

• Il Castello
• Colleparco
• Gammarana
• Madonna della Cona
• San Berardo
• San Benedetto
• San Leonardo
• Santa Maria a Bitetto
• Santo Spirito
• Villa Mosca
• Villa Pavone
• Piano della Lenta
• Colleatterrato

Frazioni

Cannelli, Caprafico, Castagneto, Castrogno, Cavuccio, Cerreto, Chiareto, Colle Caruno, Colleatterrato Alto, Colleminuccio, Colle Santa Maria, Forcella (located about 11 kilometers from Teramo and dominating the Vomano Valley, Frondarola, Galeotti, Garrano, Garrano Basso, Magnanella, Miano, Monticelli, Nepezzano, Pantaneto, Poggio Cono, Piano D'Accio, Piano della Lenta, Poggio San Vittorino, Ponzano, Putignano, Rapino, Rocciano, Rupo, Sardinara, Saccoccia, San Nicolò a Tordino (important industrial zone located along the axis joining Teramo to the sea), San Pietro ad Lacum, Sant'Atto, Scapriano, Sciusciano, Sorrenti, Spiano, Tofo Sant'Eleuterio, Tordinia, Turri, Valle San Giovanni, Valle Soprana, Varano, Villa Falchini, Villa Gesso, Villa Ripa, Villa Romita, Villa Stanghieri, Villa Taraschi, Villa Viola, Villa Vomano (located in the Vomano valley and an important link to the autostrada).

Sport

Basket

Teramo Basket is a young but established basketball team playing in Serie A, the Italian professional basketball league, from the last 7 seasons on. It ranked #3 in 2009 Italian league something that allowed the team to play the Eurocup in 2010. Teramo has been an important launch pad for both Italian and American players such as Bobby Jones, Clay Tucker, Jaycee Carroll, Roger Powell, Hassan Adams and more...

Football

Teramo Calcio was founded on July 15, 1913.

The new "Comunale stadium" hosts concerts and football matches. It has a capacity of 8,000.

Handball

H.C. Teramo Handball are two handball teams (male and female) playing in the major handball championship in Italy. The city hosts the Interamnia World Cup every July, the handball world cup with more than 30 teams from all over the world.

Other sports

Other sports practiced in Teramo are: tennis (the city hosts an international tournament once a year). rugby, water polo and rallying with Rally of Teramo. The Maratonina pretuziana short marathon is celebrated every year.

Teramo torball is the team that has won the most titles in Italy; it has also won a Champion’s league.

Gastronomy

The provincial Teramo gastronomy is known for its variety and richness. Typical ingredients include agnello (lamb), peperoncino (hot pepper), formaggio pecorino (sheep milk cheeses), and slow roasted pork. Common wines are the renowned Montepulciano and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

Typical dishes from Teramo and the surrounding communities include the following:

• scrippelle - This dish is served in the throughout the Teramo province and is somewhat similar to French crepes, although typically made without milk. There are two common variations. The first is scrippelle 'mbusse - (dialect for scrippelle in brodo or broth) and consists of scrippelle rolled up in Pecorino or Parmesan cheese and served in chicken broth. A second variation is timballo - scrippelle layered with ragù, meat or tiny meatballs (polpettini), various cheeses such as scamorza, and sometimes peas (piselli).
• maccheroni alla chitarra - a flat, stringlike egg pasta which takes its name from the wooden instrument, basically a wooden frame strung with fine metal wire, called a chitarra (guitar), used to cut the pasta.
• mazzarelle d'agnello - lamb's lung and innards wrapped in beet greens or chard and braised in white wine or tomato sauce. Not for the feint of heart and not to be confused with mozzarella cheese.
• le virtù - a vegetable soup typically prepared in May of each year to celebrate spiritual redemption and the bountiful virtues of the Earth. It is made with a wide variety of locally-grown vegetables and typically includes "annit" (a type of wild fennel).
• tacchino - a dish famous in the nearby provincial town of Canzano. Made by slow baking a turkey in gelatin (and ancient method of preserving meat) and typically served cold.
• vino cotto - a fortified wine, found also in the Marche region, produced by slowly boiling down grape juice before fermatation and aging thus producing a sweet and rich dessert-type of wine. Consumed both straight up and in cooking.
• caggiunitti - deep fried almond fritters typically made with chocolate and almonds.

Teramo is also home to Torrefazione Adriatica, S.p.A., founded in 1942 and manufacturer of Marcafe, one of the most important brands of coffee in Italy.

Transportation

Teramo is located150 km away from Rome, to which it is connected through the A24 highway called Teramo-Rome. By railways, Teramo is connected with Pescara. The nearest airport is the “Abruzzo Airport”. It is 65 km away from the city center and it is connected to the city through highway A14.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Notes

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
3. "inter amnes", Varro L. L. v.28, Fest. v. Amnes, p. 17, Müll.

External links

• Abruzzo region
• Abruzzo and Molise Sperimental Institute Zooprofilattico "G.Caporale"
• Abruzzo 2000: Comune of Teramo
• Inside Abruzzo: Insider Tips Uncovered
• Interamnia World Cup
• "La Città - Teramo News Magazine"
• Municipality of Teramo
• Museum of Teramo Pinacoteca Civica
• Provincial Library Melchiorre Delfico
• St Gabriel's Sanctuary
• Teramo, a city open to the world
• Teramo Aerial view Map
• Teramo Astronomical Observatory Collurania
• Teramo Archaeological Museum
• Teramo Basket
• Teramo Beaches Webacam
• Teramo City Webcam
• Teramo Forecast
• Teramo GoogleEarth
• Teramo Handball
• Teramo Mountains Webcam
• Teramo Museum of Physics and Astrophysics "Galileum"
• Teramo Province
• Teramo Wikitravel Site
• University of Teramo
• WebSite with Weather, Tourism and Photo

v t e Abruzzo · Comuni of the Province of Teramo
Alba Adriatica Ancarano Arsita Atri Basciano Bellante Bisenti Campli Canzano Castel Castagna Castellalto Castelli Castiglione Messer Raimondo Castilenti Cellino Attanasio Cermignano Civitella del Tronto Colledara Colonnella Controguerra Corropoli Cortino Crognaleto Fano Adriano Giulianova Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia Martinsicuro Montefino Montorio al Vomano Morro d'Oro Mosciano Sant'Angelo Nereto Notaresco Penna Sant'Andrea Pietracamela Pineto Rocca Santa Maria Roseto degli Abruzzi Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata Sant'Omero Silvi Teramo Torano Nuovo Torricella Sicura Tortoreto Tossicia Valle Castellana

• Cities and towns in Abruzzo
• Municipalities of the Province of Teramo
• Teramo
• Roman sites of Abruzzo
• Romanesque sites of Abruzzo
• Gothic sites of Abruzzo