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{{Short description|Hill town in Abruzzo, Italy}}
{{Other uses|Castel del Monte (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Castel del Monte (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
{{Infobox Italian comune
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| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|42|22|0|N|13|43|44|E|region:IT_type:city(480)|display=inline}}
| latd = 42 |latm = 22 |lats = 0 |latNS = N
| longd = 13 |longm = 43 |longs = 44 |longEW = E
| coordinates_type = region:IT_type:city(480)
| coordinates_display =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region = [[Abruzzo]]
| region = [[Abruzzo]]
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| mayor =Luciano Mucciante
| mayor =Luciano Mucciante
| area_footnotes =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 58.02
| area_total_km2 = 57.83
| population_footnotes = <ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]].</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]].</ref>
| population_total = 463
| population_total = 456
| population_as_of = 1 January 2008
| population_as_of = 31 December 2021
| pop_density_footnotes =
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym = Castellani
| population_demonym = Castellani
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1345
| elevation_m = 1346
| twin1 =
| twin1 =
| twin1_country =
| twin1_country =
Line 42: Line 40:
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Castel del Monte''' is a medieval and Renaissance [[hill town]] and ''[[comune]]'' in the [[province of L'Aquila]] in northern [[Abruzzo]], Italy. Located in the heart of [[Gran Sasso]] mountain range, the town is set into a steep hillside nestled beneath mountain peaks near the high plain of [[Campo Imperatore]]. Castel del Monte sits opposite the ancient mountaintop fortress of [[Rocca Calascio]] and faces Monte Sirente in the distance. It is located in the [[Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park]].
'''Castel del Monte''' is a medieval and Renaissance [[hill town]] and ''[[comune]]'' in the [[province of L'Aquila]] in northern [[Abruzzo]], Italy. Located in the heart of the [[Gran Sasso]] mountain range, the town is set into a steep hillside nestled beneath mountain peaks near the high plain of [[Campo Imperatore]]. Castel del Monte sits opposite the ancient mountaintop fortress of [[Rocca Calascio]] and faces Monte Sirente in the distance. It is located in the [[Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park]]. It is one of [[I Borghi più belli d'Italia]] ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/abruzzo/|title=Abruzzo|access-date=1 August 2023|language=it}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The name ''Castel del Monte'' is from the Latin ''Castellum Montis'', meaning "fortress of the mountain". The first evidence of human settlement are artifacts from the 11th century BC discovered in the valley beneath Castel del Monte and believed to be from an ancient [[necropolis]]. In the 4th century BC, [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] conquered the area and established ''Città delle Tre Corone'', the name meaning "town of the three crowns". This town was later abandoned after the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], and replaced by the fortified town of [[Ricetto]] in what is now the oldest part of Castel del Monte.
The name ''Castel del Monte'' is from the Latin ''Castellum Montis'', meaning "fortress of the mountain". The first evidence of human settlement are artifacts from the 11th century BC discovered in the valley beneath Castel del Monte and believed to be from an ancient [[necropolis]]. In the 4th century BC, [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] conquered the area and established ''Città delle Tre Corone'', the name meaning "town of the three crowns". This town was later abandoned after the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], and replaced by the fortified town of [[Ricetto]] in what is now the oldest part of Castel del Monte.
[[File:Porta San Rocco, Castel del Monte, Abruzzo.jpg|thumb||250px|left|Porta San Rocco, the main gate to historic Castel del Monte. Until the end of the 19th Century, the town's five gates were shut each night to keep out bandits]]
[[File:Porta San Rocco, Castel del Monte, Abruzzo.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Porta San Rocco, the main gate to historic Castel del Monte. Until the end of the 19th Century, the town's five gates were shut each night to keep out bandits]]
The first recorded mention of Castellum Del Monte came in 1223 in a [[papal bull]] by [[Pope Honorius III]]. In 1298, the Counts of Aquaviva took possession of the town. In 1474, it passed to [[Alessandro Sforza]] and a short time later to the [[Piccolomini]]s. In 1501, forces loyal to [[Spain]] plundered Castel del Monte because of the town's allegiance to [[France]].
The first recorded mention of Castellum Del Monte came in 1223 in a [[papal bull]] by [[Pope Honorius III]]. In 1298, the Counts of Aquaviva took possession of the town. In 1474, it passed to [[Alessandro Sforza]] and a short time later to the [[Piccolomini]]s. In 1501, forces loyal to [[Spain]] plundered Castel del Monte because of the town's allegiance to [[France]].
[[File:Chiesa di San Rocco, Castel del Monte, Abruzzo.jpg|thumb||250px|left|Chiesa di San Rocco, built adjacent to the town's main portal after the plague of 1656]]
[[File:Chiesa di San Rocco, Castel del Monte, Abruzzo.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Chiesa di San Rocco, built adjacent to the town's main portal after the plague of 1656]]
In 1579, the Piccolominis ceded the village as part of the Baronage of Carapelle to [[Francesco de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany]]. The Medici, who governed the baronage for over a century-and-a-half, left their imprint on Castel del Monte. Among the Medici legacies to the town is the construction of Chiesa "Matrice" di San Marco in 1657, whose tower is one of the dominant architectural features of Castel del Monte; the painting of [[St. John the Baptist]] in the church of Madonna del Suffragio by Bernardino di Lorenzo di Monaldo (circa 1585) commissioned by Francesco de' Medici himself; and the diminutive Chiesa di San Rocco (1656).
In 1579, the Piccolominis ceded the village as part of the Baronage of Carapelle to [[Francesco de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany]]. The Medici, who governed the baronage for over a century-and-a-half, left their imprint on Castel del Monte. Among the Medici legacies to the town is the construction of Chiesa "Matrice" di San Marco in 1657, whose tower is one of the dominant architectural features of Castel del Monte; the painting of [[St. John the Baptist]] in the church of Madonna del Suffragio by Bernardino di Lorenzo di Monaldo (circa 1585) commissioned by Francesco de' Medici himself; and the diminutive Chiesa di San Rocco (1656).


The town’s massive defensive walls, largely formed by "wall houses", and its great gates, were also completed under this period of Medici rule.
The town's massive defensive walls, largely formed by "wall houses", and its great gates, were also completed under this period of Medici rule.


In 1743, the baronage passed to Charles of Bourbon, then king of [[Two Sicilies|Naples and Sicily]] (later King [[Charles III of Spain]]). The village became part of Italy in 1861.<ref>'' Guida dell'Abruzzo'' (Guide to Abruzzo) by Enrico Abbate (1903) contains a concise summary in Italian of the history of Castel del Monte at page 417, accessed September 14, 2010. </ref>
In 1743, the baronage passed to Charles of Bourbon, then king of [[Two Sicilies|Naples and Sicily]] (later King [[Charles III of Spain]]). The village became part of Italy in 1861.<ref>'' Guida dell'Abruzzo'' (Guide to Abruzzo) by Enrico Abbate (1903) contains a concise summary in Italian of the history of Castel del Monte at page 417, accessed September 14, 2010.</ref>


==Population and economy==
==Population and economy==


According to the [[Istituto Nazionale di Statistica]] (the Italian Statistical Institute), Castel del Monte's resident population on January 1, 2008 was just 463,<ref>[http://demo.istat.it/bil2008/index_e.html ISTAT population data base]</ref> well below the town’s population in earlier centuries.
According to the [[Istituto Nazionale di Statistica]] (the Italian Statistical Institute), Castel del Monte's resident population on December 31, 2021 was just 456<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=CDQ&l=en|title=Demo - Statistiche demografiche|website=demo.istat.it}}</ref> well below the town's population in earlier centuries.
[[Image:CDM Piu belli.jpg|thumb|250px|right| Castel del Monte behind sign designating the town one of Italy's most beautiful villages, ''I borghi piu belli d’Italia'']][[File:Folk performer playing the role of a witch in La Notte delle Streghe.jpg|thumb|250px|right| A local resident playing the role of a witch in ''La Notte delle Streghe'', the "Castellano" folk drama which attracts thousands of tourists]]
[[Image:CDM Piu belli.jpg|thumb|Castel del Monte behind sign designating the town one of Italy's most beautiful villages, ''I borghi piu belli d’Italia'']][[File:Folk performer playing the role of a witch in La Notte delle Streghe.jpg|thumb|250px|right| A local resident playing the role of a witch in ''La Notte delle Streghe'', the "Castellano" folk drama which attracts thousands of tourists]]
Until recent times, Castel del Monte’s economic wellbeing has been tied to sheep farming. Between the 12th century and 16th century, the area was one of the most prolific wool producers in Europe. This prosperity continued until the end of the [[Transhumance]], an annual sheep drive south to Apulia, which ceased in the 1850s. Though Castel del Monte continued to produce wool, [[pecorino cheese]] and lamb, the economy never recovered to its pre-1850s level and the town’s population steadily declined. This population decline accelerated in the second half of the 20th century when significant numbers of Castel del Monte's residents migrated to [[Wallonia]], many to work in its coal mines. Others migrated to [[France]], [[Switzerland]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]]. In recent years, former residents who emigrated to French-speaking countries and their children have been returning to Castel del Monte with more frequency for vacations and, in some cases, to retire.
Until recent times, Castel del Monte's economic wellbeing has been tied to sheep farming. Between the 12th century and 16th century, the area was one of the most prolific wool producers in Europe. This prosperity continued until the end of the [[Transhumance]], an annual sheep drive south to Apulia, which ceased in the 1850s. Though Castel del Monte continued to produce wool, [[pecorino cheese]] and lamb, the economy never recovered to its pre-1850s level and the town's population steadily declined. This population decline accelerated in the second half of the 20th century when significant numbers of Castel del Monte's residents migrated to [[Wallonia]], many to work in its coal mines. Others migrated to [[France]], [[Switzerland]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]]. In recent years, former residents who emigrated to French-speaking countries and their children have been returning to Castel del Monte with more frequency for vacations and, in some cases, to retire.


Tourism is central to Castel del Monte’s economic hopes. The absence of economic development in the poopy 20th century meant there was little new construction in Castel del Monte within the past 100 years. As a result, most structures in Castel del Monte are several centuries old, and many are little changed from the [[Middle Ages]] or [[Renaissance]]. The creation of [[Gran Sasso|Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga]] in 1993, which Castel del Monte lies entirely within, assures that the land surrounding the town will remain forever wild, thus preserving Castel del Monte in a near pristine state.
Tourism is central to Castel del Monte's economic hopes. The absence of economic development in the 20th century meant there was little new construction in Castel del Monte within the past 100 years. As a result, most structures in Castel del Monte are several centuries old, and many are little changed from the [[Middle Ages]] or [[Renaissance]]. The creation of [[Gran Sasso|Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga]] in 1993, which Castel del Monte lies entirely within, assures that the land surrounding the town will remain forever wild, thus preserving Castel del Monte in a near pristine state.


Castel del Monte's biggest tourist event is ''La Notte delle Streghe'' or ''The Night of the Witches'', an annual event for which the town is well-known. Held in mid-August, thousands visit the town for the late-night spectacle where the entire historic district serves as a stage for residents who play the roles of townspeople and witches in a folk drama in the local dialect known as "Castellano".
Castel del Monte's biggest tourist event is ''La Notte delle Streghe'' or ''The Night of the Witches'', an annual event for which the town is well known. Held in mid-August, thousands visit the town for the late-night spectacle where the entire historic district serves as a stage for residents who play the roles of townspeople and witches in a folk drama in the local dialect known as "Castellano".


In 2006, Castel del Monte was named one of the "borghi più belli d'Italia", the most beautiful villages of Italy.<ref>[http://www.borghitalia.it/html/borgo_it.php?codice_borgo=351&codice=elenco&page=1</]| Castel del Monte, la capitale dei pastori (the capital of the shepherds)in Italian, I Borghi Piu belli D'Italia.</ref> In return for this honor, the town agreed to promote historic preservation and environmental protection. The town has also been recognized by the [[Slow Food]] movement for its sustainable agriculture, in particular its [[canestrato]] cheese.<ref>[http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/ita/dettaglio.lasso?cod=TM06_2916]| Presidio del Canestrato di Castel del Monte, in Italian.</ref>
In 2006, Castel del Monte was named one of the "borghi più belli d'Italia", the most beautiful villages of Italy.<ref>[http://www.borghitalia.it/html/borgo_it.php?codice_borgo=351&codice=elenco&page=1</]| Castel del Monte, la capitale dei pastori (the capital of the shepherds)in Italian, I Borghi Piu belli D'Italia.</ref> In return for this honor, the town agreed to promote historic preservation and environmental protection. The town has also been recognized by the [[Slow Food]] movement for its sustainable agriculture, in particular its [[canestrato]] cheese.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/ita/dettaglio.lasso?cod=TM06_2916 |title=Presidio del Canestrato di Castel del Monte - Sloweb - Slow Food |accessdate=2012-06-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722053301/http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/ita/dettaglio.lasso?cod=TM06_2916 |archivedate=2011-07-22 }}| Presidio del Canestrato di Castel del Monte, in Italian.</ref>


== Popular culture ==
Castel del Monte is the principal location of [[The American (2010 film)|''The American'']], a suspense film, released September 1, 2010, directed by [[Anton Corbijn]]. The film's central character "Jack", played by [[George Clooney]], holes up in Castel Del Monte hoping to escape from his past.<ref>Dawson, Nick. [http://www.focusfeatures.com/article/after_the_quake__the_american_and_abruzzo/print "After the Quake: The American and Abruzzo"], Films in Focus, FocusFeatures.com, 2010</ref><ref>Eggleton, Pat. [http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/sulmona/clooney-back-italy "Clooney Back in Italy"], ''Italy'' magazine, June 22, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/clooney-returns-italy-shooting-upcoming-film "Clooney Returns to Italy for Shooting on Upcoming Film"], [[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|ANSA]] via LifeInItaly.com, June 21, 2010</ref><ref>Dawson, Nick. [http://www.focusfeatures.com/article/after_the_quake__the_american_and_abruzzo/print "After the Quake: The American and Abruzzo"], Films in Focus, FocusFeatures.com, 2010</ref><ref>Eggleton, Pat. [http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/sulmona/clooney-back-italy "Clooney Back in Italy"], ''Italy'' magazine, June 22, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/clooney-returns-italy-shooting-upcoming-film "Clooney Returns to Italy for Shooting on Upcoming Film"], [[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|ANSA]] via LifeInItaly.com, June 21, 2010</ref>

<ref>Rickey, Carey. [http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20100831_Clooney_arms_assassins_in_The_American.html], Clooney arms assassins in 'The American', Philadelphia Inquirer, Augugst 31, 2010</ref>
Castel del Monte is the principal location of [[The American (2010 film)|''The American'']], a [[suspense film]], released September 1, 2010, directed by [[Anton Corbijn]]. The film's central character "Jack", played by [[George Clooney]], holes up in Castel Del Monte hoping to escape from his past.<ref>Dawson, Nick. [http://www.focusfeatures.com/article/after_the_quake__the_american_and_abruzzo/print "After the Quake: The American and Abruzzo"], Films in Focus, FocusFeatures.com, 2010</ref><ref>Eggleton, Pat. [http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/sulmona/clooney-back-italy "Clooney Back in Italy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809073605/http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/sulmona/clooney-back-italy |date=2010-08-09 }}, ''Italy'' magazine, June 22, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/clooney-returns-italy-shooting-upcoming-film "Clooney Returns to Italy for Shooting on Upcoming Film"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705220904/http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/clooney-returns-italy-shooting-upcoming-film |date=2010-07-05 }}, [[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|ANSA]] via LifeInItaly.com, June 21, 2010</ref><ref>Rickey, Carey. [http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20100831_Clooney_arms_assassins_in_The_American.html], Clooney arms assassins in 'The American', Philadelphia Inquirer, August 31, 2010</ref>


==Twin towns==
==Twin towns==
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Somain, Nord|Somain]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Somain, Nord|Somain]], [[France]]

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Castel del Monte, elevation {{convert|1300|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1951–2000)
|Jan record high C = 16.0
|Feb record high C = 16.0
|Mar record high C = 20.5
|Apr record high C = 22.5
|May record high C = 27.9
|Jun record high C = 34.1
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 33.0
|Sep record high C = 32.0
|Oct record high C = 25.5
|Nov record high C = 21.6
|Dec record high C = 18.1
|Jan record low C = -18.2
|Feb record low C = -14.6
|Mar record low C = -16.0
|Apr record low C = -8.2
|May record low C = -5.9
|Jun record low C = 0.0
|Jul record low C = 2.5
|Aug record low C = 2.0
|Sep record low C = -2.3
|Oct record low C = -6.1
|Nov record low C = -14.0
|Dec record low C = -15.3
|Jan high C = 4.3
|Feb high C = 4.7
|Mar high C = 7.4
|Apr high C = 10.8
|May high C = 15.6
|Jun high C = 19.6
|Jul high C = 22.9
|Aug high C = 23.0
|Sep high C = 19.2
|Oct high C = 13.8
|Nov high C = 8.8
|Dec high C = 5.2
| year high C =
|Jan mean C = 1.0
|Feb mean C = 1.1
|Mar mean C = 3.6
|Apr mean C = 6.8
|May mean C = 11.2
|Jun mean C = 14.9
|Jul mean C = 17.7
|Aug mean C = 17.8
|Sep mean C = 14.5
|Oct mean C = 9.9
|Nov mean C = 5.4
|Dec mean C = 2.1
| year mean C =
|Jan low C = -2.3
|Feb low C = -2.4
|Mar low C = -0.3
|Apr low C = 2.7
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 10.1
|Jul low C = 12.6
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 9.8
|Oct low C = 6.0
|Nov low C = 1.9
|Dec low C = -1.0
| year low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 78.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 65.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 72.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 81.9
|May precipitation mm = 67.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 61.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 46.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 47.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 64.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 84.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 108.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 92.3
|year precipitation mm =
| Jan precipitation days = 8.7
| Feb precipitation days = 9.1
| Mar precipitation days = 9.2
| Apr precipitation days = 10.2
| May precipitation days = 9.4
| Jun precipitation days = 7.9
| Jul precipitation days = 5.8
| Aug precipitation days = 5.7
| Sep precipitation days = 7.0
| Oct precipitation days = 8.8
| Nov precipitation days = 10.6
| Dec precipitation days = 10.6
| year precipitation days =
| source 1 = Regione Abruzzo<ref name=Clim>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240630102234/https://www.regione.abruzzo.it/system/files/agricoltura/agrometereologia/VALORI_MEDI_CLIMATICI_NELLA_REGIONE_ABRUZZO.pdf
| archive-date = 30 June 2024
| url = https://www.regione.abruzzo.it/system/files/agricoltura/agrometereologia/VALORI_MEDI_CLIMATICI_NELLA_REGIONE_ABRUZZO.pdf
| title = VALORI MEDI CLIMATICI DAL 1951 AL 2000 NELLA REGIONE ABRUZZO
| publisher= Regione Abruzzo
| access-date = 30 June 2024}}</ref>
}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}
{{commonscat|Castel del Monte (comune, Italy)}}
{{commonscat|Castel del Monte (comune, Italy)}}

==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.comune.casteldelmonte.aq.it/ Official website ]
*[http://www.comune.casteldelmonte.aq.it/ Official website ]
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{{Province of L'Aquila}}
{{Province of L'Aquila}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Castel Del Monte (Abruzzo)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castel Del Monte (Abruzzo)}}
[[Category:Hilltowns in Italy]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Abruzzo]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Abruzzo]]
[[Category:Hilltowns in Abruzzo]]
[[Category:Hilltowns in Abruzzo]]
[[Category:Borghi più belli d'Italia]]

[[ar:كاستل دل مونتي (أبروتسو)]]
[[ceb:Castel del Monte]]
[[de:Castel del Monte (Abruzzen)]]
[[es:Castel del Monte (localidad)]]
[[fr:Castel del Monte (Italie)]]
[[ia:Castel del Monte (comune)]]
[[it:Castel del Monte (comune)]]
[[kk:Кастель-дель-Монте (коммуна)]]
[[lmo:Castel del Monte]]
[[nl:Castel del Monte (gemeente)]]
[[ja:カステル・デル・モンテ (ラクイラ県)]]
[[nap:Castel del Monte (AQ)]]
[[pms:Castel del Monte]]
[[pl:Castel del Monte (Abruzja)]]
[[pt:Castel del Monte (Abruzos)]]
[[ru:Кастель-дель-Монте (коммуна)]]
[[tl:Castel del Monte, Abruzzo]]
[[uk:Кастель-дель-Монте]]
[[vo:Castel del Monte]]
[[war:Castel del Monte]]
[[zh:卡斯泰尔德尔蒙泰]]

Latest revision as of 11:29, 30 June 2024

For other uses, see Castel del Monte (disambiguation).
Castel del Monte
Comune
Comune di Castel del Monte
Coat of arms of Castel del Monte
Coat of arms
Location of Castel del Monte
Map
Castel del Monte is located in Italy
Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte
Location of Castel del Monte in Italy
Castel del Monte is located in Abruzzo
Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte (Abruzzo)
Coordinates: 42°22′0″N 13°43′44″E / 42.36667°N 13.72889°E / 42.36667; 13.72889
CountryItaly
RegionAbruzzo
ProvinceL'Aquila (AQ)
Government
 • MayorLuciano Mucciante
Area
[1]
 • Total
57.83 km2 (22.33 sq mi)
Elevation
1,346 m (4,416 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2021)[2]
 • Total
456
 • Density7.9/km2 (20/sq mi)
DemonymCastellani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
67023
Dialing code0862
Patron saintSaint Donatus
Saint day7 August

Castel del Monte is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and comune in the province of L'Aquila in northern Abruzzo, Italy. Located in the heart of the Gran Sasso mountain range, the town is set into a steep hillside nestled beneath mountain peaks near the high plain of Campo Imperatore. Castel del Monte sits opposite the ancient mountaintop fortress of Rocca Calascio and faces Monte Sirente in the distance. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]

History

[edit]

The name Castel del Monte is from the Latin Castellum Montis, meaning "fortress of the mountain". The first evidence of human settlement are artifacts from the 11th century BC discovered in the valley beneath Castel del Monte and believed to be from an ancient necropolis. In the 4th century BC, Romans conquered the area and established Città delle Tre Corone, the name meaning "town of the three crowns". This town was later abandoned after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and replaced by the fortified town of Ricetto in what is now the oldest part of Castel del Monte.

Porta San Rocco, the main gate to historic Castel del Monte. Until the end of the 19th Century, the town's five gates were shut each night to keep out bandits

The first recorded mention of Castellum Del Monte came in 1223 in a papal bull by Pope Honorius III. In 1298, the Counts of Aquaviva took possession of the town. In 1474, it passed to Alessandro Sforza and a short time later to the Piccolominis. In 1501, forces loyal to Spain plundered Castel del Monte because of the town's allegiance to France.

Chiesa di San Rocco, built adjacent to the town's main portal after the plague of 1656

In 1579, the Piccolominis ceded the village as part of the Baronage of Carapelle to Francesco de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Medici, who governed the baronage for over a century-and-a-half, left their imprint on Castel del Monte. Among the Medici legacies to the town is the construction of Chiesa "Matrice" di San Marco in 1657, whose tower is one of the dominant architectural features of Castel del Monte; the painting of St. John the Baptist in the church of Madonna del Suffragio by Bernardino di Lorenzo di Monaldo (circa 1585) commissioned by Francesco de' Medici himself; and the diminutive Chiesa di San Rocco (1656).

The town's massive defensive walls, largely formed by "wall houses", and its great gates, were also completed under this period of Medici rule.

In 1743, the baronage passed to Charles of Bourbon, then king of Naples and Sicily (later King Charles III of Spain). The village became part of Italy in 1861.[4]

Population and economy

[edit]

According to the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (the Italian Statistical Institute), Castel del Monte's resident population on December 31, 2021 was just 456[5] well below the town's population in earlier centuries.

Castel del Monte behind sign designating the town one of Italy's most beautiful villages, I borghi piu belli d’Italia
A local resident playing the role of a witch in La Notte delle Streghe, the "Castellano" folk drama which attracts thousands of tourists

Until recent times, Castel del Monte's economic wellbeing has been tied to sheep farming. Between the 12th century and 16th century, the area was one of the most prolific wool producers in Europe. This prosperity continued until the end of the Transhumance, an annual sheep drive south to Apulia, which ceased in the 1850s. Though Castel del Monte continued to produce wool, pecorino cheese and lamb, the economy never recovered to its pre-1850s level and the town's population steadily declined. This population decline accelerated in the second half of the 20th century when significant numbers of Castel del Monte's residents migrated to Wallonia, many to work in its coal mines. Others migrated to France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In recent years, former residents who emigrated to French-speaking countries and their children have been returning to Castel del Monte with more frequency for vacations and, in some cases, to retire.

Tourism is central to Castel del Monte's economic hopes. The absence of economic development in the 20th century meant there was little new construction in Castel del Monte within the past 100 years. As a result, most structures in Castel del Monte are several centuries old, and many are little changed from the Middle Ages or Renaissance. The creation of Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga in 1993, which Castel del Monte lies entirely within, assures that the land surrounding the town will remain forever wild, thus preserving Castel del Monte in a near pristine state.

Castel del Monte's biggest tourist event is La Notte delle Streghe or The Night of the Witches, an annual event for which the town is well known. Held in mid-August, thousands visit the town for the late-night spectacle where the entire historic district serves as a stage for residents who play the roles of townspeople and witches in a folk drama in the local dialect known as "Castellano".

In 2006, Castel del Monte was named one of the "borghi più belli d'Italia", the most beautiful villages of Italy.[6] In return for this honor, the town agreed to promote historic preservation and environmental protection. The town has also been recognized by the Slow Food movement for its sustainable agriculture, in particular its canestrato cheese.[7]

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Castel del Monte is the principal location of The American, a suspense film, released September 1, 2010, directed by Anton Corbijn. The film's central character "Jack", played by George Clooney, holes up in Castel Del Monte hoping to escape from his past.[8][9][10][11]

Twin towns

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Climate

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Climate data for Castel del Monte, elevation 1,300 m (4,300 ft), (1951–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.0
(60.8) 		16.0
(60.8) 		20.5
(68.9) 		22.5
(72.5) 		27.9
(82.2) 		34.1
(93.4) 		35.0
(95.0) 		33.0
(91.4) 		32.0
(89.6) 		25.5
(77.9) 		21.6
(70.9) 		18.1
(64.6) 		35.0
(95.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7) 		4.7
(40.5) 		7.4
(45.3) 		10.8
(51.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		19.6
(67.3) 		22.9
(73.2) 		23.0
(73.4) 		19.2
(66.6) 		13.8
(56.8) 		8.8
(47.8) 		5.2
(41.4) 		12.9
(55.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.0
(33.8) 		1.1
(34.0) 		3.6
(38.5) 		6.8
(44.2) 		11.2
(52.2) 		14.9
(58.8) 		17.7
(63.9) 		17.8
(64.0) 		14.5
(58.1) 		9.9
(49.8) 		5.4
(41.7) 		2.1
(35.8) 		8.8
(47.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		2.7
(36.9) 		6.9
(44.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		12.6
(54.7) 		12.5
(54.5) 		9.8
(49.6) 		6.0
(42.8) 		1.9
(35.4) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		4.7
(40.5)
Record low °C (°F) −18.2
(−0.8) 		−14.6
(5.7) 		−16.0
(3.2) 		−8.2
(17.2) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		0.0
(32.0) 		2.5
(36.5) 		2.0
(35.6) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		−6.1
(21.0) 		−14.0
(6.8) 		−15.3
(4.5) 		−18.2
(−0.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 78.3
(3.08) 		65.0
(2.56) 		72.5
(2.85) 		81.9
(3.22) 		67.2
(2.65) 		61.7
(2.43) 		46.8
(1.84) 		47.3
(1.86) 		64.9
(2.56) 		84.6
(3.33) 		108.5
(4.27) 		92.3
(3.63) 		871
(34.28)
Average precipitation days 8.7 9.1 9.2 10.2 9.4 7.9 5.8 5.7 7.0 8.8 10.6 10.6 103
Source: Regione Abruzzo[12]

Notes

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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. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  3. ^ "Abruzzo" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ Guida dell'Abruzzo (Guide to Abruzzo) by Enrico Abbate (1903) contains a concise summary in Italian of the history of Castel del Monte at page 417, accessed September 14, 2010.
  5. ^ "Demo - Statistiche demografiche". demo.istat.it.
  6. ^ </ | Castel del Monte, la capitale dei pastori (the capital of the shepherds)in Italian, I Borghi Piu belli D'Italia.
  7. ^ "Presidio del Canestrato di Castel del Monte - Sloweb - Slow Food". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2012-06-13.| Presidio del Canestrato di Castel del Monte, in Italian.
  8. ^ Dawson, Nick. "After the Quake: The American and Abruzzo", Films in Focus, FocusFeatures.com, 2010
  9. ^ Eggleton, Pat. "Clooney Back in Italy" Archived 2010-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, Italy magazine, June 22, 2010
  10. ^ "Clooney Returns to Italy for Shooting on Upcoming Film" Archived 2010-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, ANSA via LifeInItaly.com, June 21, 2010
  11. ^ Rickey, Carey. [1], Clooney arms assassins in 'The American', Philadelphia Inquirer, August 31, 2010
  12. ^ "VALORI MEDI CLIMATICI DAL 1951 AL 2000 NELLA REGIONE ABRUZZO" (PDF). Regione Abruzzo. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
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