Città Sant'Angelo: Old Town, Art and Views

Situated on a hill on the northern side of the Saline River valley, Città Sant'Angelo combines a historic town centre with a viewpoint overlooking the landscape. From this natural vantage point, the view extends to the Maiella and Gran Sasso mountains and the Pescara coast. If you are looking for a hotel in Città Sant'Angelo, you can choose where to stay based on whether you would like to focus your visit primarily on the old town and its buildings, the museums or the views of the surrounding landscape.

Old town between the main street and lanes

The historic centre is arranged around a central main street, along which the most important monuments are located. The medieval street plan also includes lanes known as “ruve”, which cross the long main street through the old town. The main street and cross streets make the town’s layout a subject in its own right: the monuments stand along the same central axis, while the ruve cross it.

The Torre dell’Orologio stands atop Palazzo Pachetti in the heart of the town. Originally used as a watchtower and weapons store, it was converted into a clock tower around 1750. The building thus illustrates a historical change of function: its original uses were followed by its use as a clock tower.

Churches and their architectural details

The Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo brings together several precisely dated details. The church was rebuilt in the 13th century, and its portico is 47 metres long. The portal dates to 1326 and was created by Raimondo di Poggio. There is also a rare organ with a masonry case. The portico, portal and organ offer different ways to appreciate the building.

The Chiesa della Madonna della Pace dates from the 16th century. At the entrance to the historic centre stands the single-nave church of Sant'Antonio, whose walls are decorated with Baroque stucco work. The church of San Francesco features a restored cloister in the former monastery, which now houses the town hall. Santa Chiara has a trefoil floor plan, considered the only example of its kind in the entire region. These buildings offer contrasting points of interest, from the stucco inside the church and the cloister to the distinctive floor plan.

Museums spanning collections and applied arts

The Museo Civico Luigi Chiavetta is housed in the deconsecrated church of San Salvatore. Its collection includes Conocchie: wooden devotional statues dressed in embroidered clothing, with wigs and jewellery. The museum also displays liturgical and devotional objects from the Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo. The expanded exhibition route also includes a section on the Carnevale di “Ndirùcce”.

Another focus on art can be found at the Museolaboratorio d’Arte Contemporanea, housed in the former tobacco factory and founded in 1998. It offers guided tours and vocational training courses in the applied arts. Together, the two institutions showcase different cultural aspects of the town: historic collection objects and an exhibition on Carnival sit alongside contemporary art and applied arts.

Local cuisine and agricultural produce

A local speciality is La mugnaia, handmade pasta made from a single strand of dough worked by hand and served with meat sauce. The area around Città Sant'Angelo has extensive olive groves and vineyards, and numerous farms produce wine and extra virgin olive oil. Alongside the buildings and collections, a distinctive local dish and agricultural production are also part of what makes the town unique.

Guided tours

Guided tours of Città Sant'Angelo can be booked by calling (+39) 331.4642.985. If you are planning a tour, you can ask about your preferred date when booking.

Discover more destinations: Pescosansonesco Nuovo, Scafa, Cepagatti, Penne, Loreto Aprutino, Civitaquana, San Valentino In Abruzzo Citeriore, Bussi Sul Tirino.

Go to the main travel overview: Pescara.