Castelli, Abruzzo

Castelli (Abruzzese: Li Castìllë) is a comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy, included in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.

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

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. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

• Castelli pictures