| Popoli | |||
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| — Comune — | |||
| Comune di Popoli | |||
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Popoli
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Abruzzo | ||
| Province | Pescara (PE) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 34 km2 (13.1 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 254 m (833 ft) | ||
| Population (December 31, 2005) | |||
| • Total | 5,558 | ||
| • Density | 163.5/km2 (423.4/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Popolesi | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 65026 | ||
| Dialing code | 085 | ||
| Patron saint | St. Boniface | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Popoli is a comune and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy.
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Its Latin name was Castrum Properi (Waystation Fortress), which name was recorded as early as 1016 as the property of Girardo, son of Roccone. The castle above the town was built between 1000 and 1015 for Tidolfo, Bishop of Valva.
Popoli was bombarded twice during World War II by the British Air Force. On 20 January 1944, the most important bridge in the region, the "Julius Caesar" bridge connecting Rome with Pescara, was destroyed. On 22 March 1944 at noon the city center and city hall were destroyed by substantial bombing by the British. Unfortunately, it was a day that rations were being distributed to town at the city hall, and there were long lines of women and children, many of whom were killed or wounded. The day is still remembered with sorrow by the town's inhabitants.
Following World War II, the Italian Republic awarded the town of Popoli with the "Silver Medal of Civil Merit" (Medaglia d'argento al merito civile) "Crucial center, occupied by German troops the day after the armistice, was subjected to repeated and violent bombardments which caused the deaths of ninety-one civilians and the destruction of nearly all of the public property. The whole population knew how to react, with dignity and courage, to the horrors of war and to face, with the return of peace, the difficult works of moral and material reconstruction." -- Popoli (PE), 1943–1944
The town and the surrounding area have several objects of interest:
The main festivity is in August. The historical parade with people dressed in costume is held in celebration of historical event of the city (1495). The parade is followed by a fair, called "Certamen de la Balestra". Strength and ability are necessary for the knight to win the Certamen or the grand prize.