Caramanico Terme
Caramanico Terme is a comune and town in the province of Pescara, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Nestled on a hilltop, it lies near the confluence of the Orfento and Orta rivers, between the Monte Morrone and Majella mountains. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia.
History
The town takes its name from cara, meaning rock and/or arimannia, a Lombard establishment in the late Middle Ages. Then the name Terme was added in 1960 because of the presence of a spa nearby.The present settlement is recorded since Lombard times. Then it underwent a remarkable development in the 14th-15th centuries, under the D'Aquino family, and in that period many important monuments were built. In 1706, an earthquake nearby destroyed the town.
Main sights
- Church of S. Maria Maggiore, with a Gothic exterior and an ogival portal with a depiction of the Coronation of the Virgin. The exterior has also depictions of apostles, pilgrims and singers with 15th century musical instruments. The Assumption Chapel has a Baroque interior.
- Romanesque church of St. Tommaso, founded in the 13th century in honor of Thomas of Canterbury. It was built above a 9th-century pieve. It has a nave and two aisles, with different levels. The façade has a rose window and single mullioned windows, three portals and four semi-colons from a never built portico. The side portals have with floreal decorations, while the central one has a high-relief of the Twelve Apostles and Christ Enthroned. The interior, with a nave and aisles divided by composite columns and square columns. The interior houses also a Corinthian column which has alleged miraculous properties.
- Archaeological Museum "P. Barrasso"
- Museum of Abruzzo and Italy Fauna
- Hermitage of San Giovanni all'Orfento