Castelli, Abruzzo

Castelli
Comune
Comune di Castelli

Coat of arms
Castelli

Location of Castelli in Italy

Coordinates: 42°29′17″N 13°42′42″E / 42.48806°N 13.71167°E / 42.48806; 13.71167
Country Italy
Region Abruzzo
Province / Metropolitan city Teramo (TE)
Frazioni Befaro, Carraro, Casette Faiano, Colledoro, Morriconi, Palombara, San Rocco, Villa Rossi
Government
  Mayor Enzo De Rosa
Area
  Total 49 km2 (19 sq mi)
Elevation 497 m (1,631 ft)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
  Total 1,257
  Density 26/km2 (66/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Castellani
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 64041
Dialing code 0861

Castelli is a comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy, included in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.

The medieval hill town lies beneath Mount Camicia on the eastern side of the Gran Sasso Massif. Castelli is best known for its maiolicas, a form of decorative ceramic, which were collected by the nobility of Europe for centuries and which were at their pinnacle from the 16th through 18th century and are still produced today by local artists. Castelli maiolica was a favorite dinnerware of Russian Tsars. One of the most valued collections of Castelli ceramics is now housed at the Winter Palace of the Hermitage State Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Castelli's main church is San Donato, which holds a maiolica altar-piece by Francesco Grue (1647) and a medieval silver cross of the Sulmona school. Its tiled ceiling is believed to have been decorated by the ceramics master Oracio Pompei or artists working from his studio.

Today, Castelli hosts an art institute and ceramics museum as well as many ceramics shops and studios.

References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.



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