Torricella Sicura

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Commune of Torricella Sicura
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	Teramo (TE)
Mayor

Elevation	437 m
Area	54 km²
Population
- Total (as of November 21, 2001)	2,692
- Density	50/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates
Gentilic	Torricellesi
Dialing code	0861
Postal code	64010



Website: Commune of Torricella Sicura

Torricella Sicura is a communal city of 2,687 people (according 2001 census data) in the province of Teramo. It is located about four miles from the city of Teramo in the region of Abruzzo in central Italy. The people of this town refer to themselves as "Torricellesi".

Torricella Sicura is known as the birthplace of Mario Capuani, a young physician who supported the Italian partisans and was subsequently shot to death by German troops during the last phases of World War II.

1 History
2 Museums
3 Neighborhoods
4 Churches
5 Suburbs and Surrounding Hamlets (Frazioni)
6 External links

Torricella Sicura Town Center

[edit] History

The town most likely takes the first part of its name from an ancient castle once found just to the north. The local gentry still refer to this area as "lu castille" (the castle). In the late 1700's there is mention of an underground tunnel that led from the castle to the surrounding countryside. Legend has it that somewhere in this area is an enormous grotto containing a vast treasure under the watchful of an enormous serpent. The second part of the town's name, "Sicura" is thought to be a derivation of "Sicula", with reference to an indigenous people living in the area in the first millennium B.C.E.

Surrounding the town are vestiges of Roman Empire and High Middle Ages epochs. Also present are temple ruins, ancient Roman graves, and a mysterious altar dedicated to an unknown deity. One monumental inscription is dedicated to the High Priestess "Numisia" and others speak of the presence of a thermal bathhouse.

[edit] Museums

Located in the town is a private museum devoted to the folklore of Torricella Sicura and the surrounding area. It includes more than 16,000 pieces of memorabilia divided into three main sections. The first is a presentation of very detailed and accurate historical farming scenes done in miniature 1:5 scale. The second is collection of farming tools, many of which date from the 1800's and early 1900's. The third portion is a "virtual museum" in which information about the customs and typical professions of the past is presented in a multimedia internet site. The founder of the museum, Gino Di Benedetto, has taken great care and expense to make his collection of historical objects as authentic as possible.

[edit] Neighborhoods

The town is divided in neighborhoods, several of which have nickname. The include:

Torricella Oscura
Torricella Scarpone - the area surrounding the town castle
Torricella Romana - the area surrounding the house of the illustrious Romani family
Torricella Case Nuove - area in which homes have most recently been constructed
Centro - area in the center of town lacking a specfic nickname

[edit] Churches

Snow Covered Church

The main place of worship in Torricella Sicura is the Parish Church, Saint Paul the Apostle, named after the patron saint of the town. It is located in the center of Torricella Sicura and is noted for its majestic bell tower.
A smaller church is called Madonna delle Vergini (Madonna of the Virgins), often referred to as "Chiesa della Cona" (Church of the Icon) in reference to its links to the Virgin Mother.

[edit] Suburbs and Surrounding Hamlets (Frazioni)

Abetemozzo, Antenemuccio, Borgonovo, Corvacchiano, Ginepri, Ioanella, Magliano, Morricone, Pastignano, Piano Grande, Poggio Rattieri, Poggio Valle, San Felice, San Pietro, Tizzano, Valle Piola, Villa Popolo, Villa Riccio, Villa Tofo