Collemezzano: Art, History and Local Delights in Rosciano

The cultural and culinary history of the municipality of Rosciano, which Collemezzano belongs to, provides a broad thematic setting: medieval architecture, religious art, an Arbëreshë tradition and regional produce each offer a different focus. When choosing a holiday rental for your stay, one question can help you decide: would you mainly like to explore historic buildings, art and religious traditions, or the produce of Abruzzo? These different themes complement one another without telling the same story.

Norman tower and the history of the name

A medieval castle with a tower known as “dei Paladini” stands in the municipality of Rosciano. The tower in Rosciano was built by the Normans. The history of the place’s name is also linked to the castle: Roscio da Montechiaro, the castle’s first military commander, gave it its name. The history of the place thus brings together a building, a military role and a specific person. The tower’s nickname and the story behind the place name offer two distinct historical points of reference.

Church art from different centuries

In the historic centre of Rosciano, the Church of San Nicola preserves a series of Renaissance frescoes from the school of Andrea De Litio. Another artistic highlight is the Church of the Assumption of Mary, also known as Santa Eurosia. It houses paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including three paintings by Nicola Ranieri da Guardiagrele dating from 1774. The same church also contains the Mannerist painting “Madonna del Rosario col papa Pio V” from 1581.

The dates make a direct comparison possible: the Mannerist work is from the late 16th century, while Ranieri’s three paintings are from the 18th century. The Renaissance frescoes of San Nicola add another art-historical context. The name Santa Eurosia also connects the church with a local tradition: a legend associated with Rosciano tells of the martyr Santa Eurosia.

Villa Badessa: language and liturgical tradition

Villa Badessa is a hamlet of Rosciano and an Arbëreshë language island. The language has disappeared from everyday speech, but lives on in liturgical practice. This points to a different kind of cultural continuity from that of the paintings and frescoes: here, the tradition is linked to the use of the language during worship. Villa Badessa is home to a church of the Greek-Byzantine rite. It belongs to the Eparchy of Lungro in Calabria.

Wine and produce from Rosciano

Local production also shapes the character of Rosciano. The area is known for its wine and high-quality extra virgin olive oil, and is a member of the Italian association Città del Vino d’Italia. The Marramiero winery was founded by the Marramiero family at the beginning of the 20th century and produces, among other wines, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. A long winemaking tradition and a specifically named wine thus go hand in hand, while the extra virgin olive oil adds another important local product to the picture.

These themes offer different starting points when choosing where to stay: the castle and church art lead into the past, Villa Badessa offers a glimpse into a language and worship tradition, and the local produce tells the story of agriculture and winemaking. At La Torre in Rosciano, the entrance and car park are accessible to people with disabilities. Check the conditions before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Roccamorice, Lettomanoppello, Collecorvino, Montesilvano, Villareia, Scafa, Castellana, Brittoli

For the main travel overview: Pescara.