Civitaquana: Building History, Poetry and Landscape

Civitaquana brings together history, literature and landscape in a variety of ways. The town lies on a hill above the Nora River valley; from this elevated position, the Maiella massif is visible. Other points of interest include a Benedictine church with a medieval floor plan, a permanent open-air route along the town’s double row of lime trees, and other traces of architecture and history. If you are looking for a hotel in Civitaquana, you can start planning your trip by deciding whether you are especially interested in sacred architecture, literature in the townscape or the landscape.

Building History and Sacred Art

Santa Maria delle Grazie was founded by Benedictine monks in the second half of the 12th century. Its floor plan has Lombard influences and three naves. The reference to the three naves describes the spatial layout; the Lombard influence provides a further architectural classification alongside the dating. A relief dated to the 12th century is preserved in Santa Maria delle Grazie. Thus, alongside the building’s form, a specific surviving work and its date are also of interest.

Palazzo Leognani Castriota is an 18th-century building. The history of Civitaquana Castle includes an event from 1269: Sordello da Goito received it from Charles I of Anjou and ruled over it. Together, these buildings represent different historical reference points—from the medieval founding of the church and the relief to the 18th-century palazzo. The castle adds a specific event from the history of rulership to this perspective.

Poetry on an Open-Air Route

Viale della Poesia is a permanent open-air route in Civitaquana. It runs along the town’s double row of lime trees, linking its literary theme to a specific route. Each year, the route is expanded with an installation dedicated to the work of a poet who has received the career award. The “Civitaquana Borgo della Poesia” project held its second edition in 2026.

Another literary initiative is the “CivitaquanaPoesia” National Prize: its first edition was promoted in 2025 by Fondazione Pescarabruzzo in collaboration with the Municipality of Civitaquana. The route and the prize offer literature enthusiasts two different points of interest: a permanent path and an award. The installation project, which is added to each year, and the prize can therefore be seen as different forms of literary activity in Civitaquana.

Landscape and Archaeological Traces

The hillside setting above the Nora River valley and the view of the Maiella massif define the landscape. There are also archaeological remains: traces of large cisterns have come to light beneath the plain of Colle Quinzio. Ancient underground aqueducts from Roman times were discovered outside Civitaquana’s municipal area. The geographical reference for these aqueducts is therefore outside the town’s territory, whereas the cistern traces are associated with the plain of Colle Quinzio. Landscape features and underground remains thus stand alongside one another as distinct topics.

Historical and Literary Highlights

The topics also differ in their time perspectives: the church, palazzo and castle can be placed in the context of building and political history spanning specific centuries, while the installation added each year is a notable feature of Viale della Poesia. Before your trip, you can decide whether you would rather focus on historical layers or an ongoing literary project.

Discover more destinations: Pianella, Corvara, Villa Celiera, Citta' Sant'angelo, Popoli, Nocciano, Collecorvino, Civitella Casanova

For the broader travel guide: Pescara.