Castilenti: Churches, History and Wine

Castilenti stretches along a ridge beside the Fino River, near the border with the Pescara area. Its historical connections range from churches and buildings to archaeological finds from Italic, Roman and Hellenistic times. There are also wine tours at San Lorenzo Vini and a route option with a clearly specified direction. You can plan your stay around architectural history, archaeological traces, wine or a hiking route.

Churches and Architectural History

The Baroque mother church, Chiesa di Santa Vittoria Vergine e Martire, is in Castilenti; its origins date back to 1309. The Church of San Rocco dates from the 17th century and was the seat of the Confraternity of San Rocco di Montpellier. The town thus has two churches with distinct historical connections: Santa Vittoria combines its Baroque character with origins reaching far back in time, while San Rocco is linked to the history of the confraternity.

Other buildings mark different periods. Just outside the town centre is the 16th-century Fontana Vecchia. The Franciscan monastery of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto was built outside the town in 1598. The Palazzo of the Marchesi de Sterlich in Castilenti was built of brick in the 16th century. Together, these buildings and places offer an overview of different aspects of local history: sacred architecture, a fountain and a palazzo all feature, as does San Rocco’s historical connection to a confraternity.

Archaeological Traces

The sites also differ in period and type. An Italic necropolis was found at Colle San Pietro, and a Roman villa at Contrada Fonte Pisciarello. At San Romualdo, the remains of a Hellenistic place of worship dating from the 3rd to 2nd century BC came to light. These three references range from a burial site to a villa and a place of worship, helping to put Castilenti’s archaeological connections in chronological context.

In the hamlet of Casabianca, traces of Italic settlements may point, among other things, to a burial containing an iron sword, a bowl and a jug with a bronze handle. Another Roman reference point is a milestone on the Via del Sale dating from 374 AD. It is located in Castrum Lentuli, present-day Castilenti. The sites and evidence mentioned here highlight different aspects; together, they make the area’s long history a subject in its own right when planning your trip.

Comparing Wine Tours

At San Lorenzo Vini in Castilenti, the Classic Wine Tour includes an introduction to the winery, with information about its history and vineyards. It also includes a guided tasting of three wines, accompanied by Solina bread and house-produced olive oil. The tour therefore combines an introduction to the winery with a tasting and its specifically named accompaniments.

The Private VIP Tour focuses on other things: it includes a visit to the vineyards, a stop at the ancient Cascina “I Grilli” and a visit to the winery at Castello De Sterlich. The tour itineraries are the key to comparing them: the Classic Wine Tour features a guided tasting with bread and oil, as well as an introduction to the winery; the VIP Tour includes the vineyards, Cascina and winery. You can choose a tour based on which of these experiences interest you most.

GreenWay Terre del Cerrano

The GreenWay Terre del Cerrano route can be walked in either direction. The recommended starting point is Atri, heading towards Villa San Romualdo (Castilenti). This direction gives you a specific starting point for planning your route. As route conditions may change, check them before setting out.

Whether you are most interested in architectural history, archaeological finds, the offerings at San Lorenzo Vini or a route, each of these subjects provides a different starting point for planning your stay in Castilenti.

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