Gessopalena: A gypsum village with a rich cultural history

The old village, built entirely from gypsum, the Museo del Gesso, and the churches of Chiesa dell’Annunziata and Chiesa di Sant’Antonio give Gessopalena a distinctive cultural history. At Largo del Principe, you can see the foundations of ancient buildings carved into the rock; the ORIZZONTI art installation is located in Contrada Morgia. Also held here is the Sacra Rappresentazione del Mercoledì Santo, a Passion play that has been performed for more than 50 years. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these themes: construction methods, archaeological traces, religious sites and a recurring tradition.

Gypsum as a building material and museum subject

The original settlement of Gessopalena dates back to around the year 1000; the old village was built entirely from gypsum. The Museo del Gesso is housed in restored and protected homes, as well as in underground rooms. It presents the production cycles of gypsum, including different types of quarries and kilns. Here, gypsum appears in two distinct contexts: as the building material of the old village and as the subject of its production cycles.

Churches, rock and cultural sites

Chiesa dell’Annunziata is probably the oldest place of worship in the historic center of Gessopalena. At the entrance to the Borgo is the small neoclassical chapel of Chiesa di Sant’Antonio. The two churches differ both in location and in how they are characterized: for the Annunziata, the focus is on its probable status as the oldest place of worship; for Sant’Antonio, it is the chapel form, neoclassical style and location at the entrance to the Borgo. At Largo del Principe, you can see the foundations of ancient buildings carved into the rock. These archaeological traces add another perspective on the town’s history alongside its religious buildings. The ORIZZONTI art installation is located in Contrada Morgia in Gessopalena.

The Sacra Rappresentazione del Mercoledì Santo

For more than 50 years, the Sacra Rappresentazione del Mercoledì Santo has brought the Passion of Christ to life; the tradition takes place every two years. More than 150 people in historic costumes take part, along with musicians, choirs and dancers. The ruins of the ancient rock settlement, opposite the Majella, provide the backdrop for the crucifixion scenes. If you would like to plan your trip around the performance, check the dates for the year in question.

A date in history

The Strage di Sant’Agata di Gessopalena was a tragic event during the Second World War and took place on January 21, 1944. Unlike the Passion play, which returns every two years, this was a specific, dated event from the Second World War. This distinguishes the timing of a religious tradition from that of a historical event.

Lago Sant’Angelo and Lago di Casoli

Gessopalena includes part of Lago Sant’Angelo, also known as Lago di Casoli. The two names refer to the same lake; if you come across them while planning your trip, you can recognize them as references to the same body of water.

Note about the historic Borgo

The condition of the paths is an important consideration when planning a visit to the historic Borgo. The paving is uneven, and structural limitations mean that full accessibility for people with reduced mobility cannot be guaranteed. If accessibility is essential for you, keep this in mind when planning and, if necessary, check the conditions for your specific visit in advance.

Discover more destinations: Torrevecchia Teatina, Villamagna, San Vito Chietino, Montazzoli, Rocca San Giovanni, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro, Casoli, Chieti

Go to the main travel overview: Chieti.