Casoli (Abruzzese: Càsule) a comune and town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is situated on a foothill of the Majella mountain, at the base of which runs the Aventino River, tributary of the Sangro. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,901 and an area of 66 square kilometres (25 sq mi).[3]

Casoli
Comune di Casoli
The church and the castle of Casoli
The church and the castle of Casoli
Location of Casoli
Map
Casoli is located in Italy
Casoli
Casoli
Location of Casoli in Italy
Casoli is located in Abruzzo
Casoli
Casoli
Casoli (Abruzzo)
Coordinates: 42°07′N 14°17′E / 42.117°N 14.283°E / 42.117; 14.283
CountryItaly
RegionAbruzzo
ProvinceProvince of Chieti (CH)
FrazioniAscigno, Capoposta, Cappacorti, Caprafico, Cavassutti, Cinonni, Cipollaro, Collebarone, Collelungo, Collemarco, Colle della Torre, Coste Martini, Fiorentini, Grottarimposta, Guarenna Nuova, Guarenna Vecchia, Laroma, Laroscia, Mandramancina, Merosci, Minco di Lici, Monti, Piana delle vacche, Pianibbie, Piano Carlino, Piano del Mulino, Piano la Fara, Piano Laroma, Piano Morelli, Piano delle Vigne, Quarto da Capo, Ripitella, Selva Piana, Serra, Taloni, Torretta, Valle Curato, Verratti, Vicenne, Vizzarri
Government
 • MayorSergio De Luca
Area
 • Total
66 km2 (25 sq mi)
Elevation
378 m (1,240 ft)
Population
 (December 31, 2004)[2]
 • Total
5,901
 • Density89/km2 (230/sq mi)
DemonymCasolani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
66043
Dialing code0872
Patron saintSaint Reparata
Saint dayOctober 8
WebsiteOfficial website

Casoli borders the following municipalities: Altino, Civitella Messer Raimondo, Gessopalena, Guardiagrele, Palombaro, Roccascalegna, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[4]

History

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It was the ancient settlement of Cluviae, a city of the Caraceni tribe that was the territory most probably conquered by Lombards in the 6th century. The medieval name "castri de Casule" was first recorded in 878 AD in the Memoriatorium abbatis Berthari, a manuscript conserved in the Abbey of Monte Cassino.

The village was controlled, in the fourteenth century by the Orsini family, who fortified the Norman castle. Casoli became famous as part cultirale in the nineteenth century, when the Mayor Pasquale Masciantonio housed in the castle the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio. In World War II, Casoli did not suffer severe bombing, because it was declared a "free city" for the displaced.

Main sights

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  • Castello Masciantonio: Norman castle of the eleventh century, with a tower and fortified ducal palace, which houses a museum. The room that housed Gabriele d'Annunzio is of particular interest for a dithyramb written by d'Annunzio on the wall, in thanks.
  • Church of Santa Maria Maggiore: It was one of the Orsini chapel (14th century), and later in the seventeenth century it became a real church. It has a rectangular plan, with a side porch, Baroque mold.

Demographic evolution

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Sister cities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  4. ^ "Abruzzo" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.