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CHIETI
Chieti, like
Sulmona, sinks its origin
in a mythological past: it was founded by the hero Achille,
who named it Teate in honor of its mother. Sure the city was
the capital of the ancient people of Marrucini,
allies of Sanniti in the wars against Rome, with the name
of Teate Marrocinorum.
Subsequently it made an alliance with Rome becoming a political
center in 91 a.C and knowing a good period of development.
But the end of the Roman Empire wrote the destiny of all the
localities of central Italy: pillages and devastations by
invading people of the Goti, Visigoti and Longobards. Last
ones however did not make destructions and, with the attempt
to create a reign in Italy, developed some cities. Chieti
was one of these becoming "gastaldato" of their
reign. Franchi followed then, the Svevi, Angioini and Aragonesi.
Of the roman period Chieti presents scattered evidences like
the Roman Theatre, the Tempietti
Romani and one ancient reservior of Thermal baths.
The cathedral of S. Giustino (XIV sec.),
risen on a pre-exsistent building built by bishop Teodorico
(840 a.D.), keeps interesting frescoes in its interior and
a nice bell tower, adorned with mullioned windows projected
by Bartolomeo di Giacomo. It is worth goint to visit also
the churches of Saint Peter and San Giovanni of the Cappuccini.
The visit of Chieti cannot said finished without the National
Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo, that keeps valuable
pieces of sculpture dating back to the pre-Roman period but
also Roman statues (III cent. b.C. - IV a.D.).
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