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Popoli
Popoli
	— Comune —
Comune di Popoli
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	; Popoli Location of Popoli in Italy
	Coordinates: 42°10′N 13°50′E / 42.167°N 13.833°ECoordinates: 42°10′N 13°50′E / 42.167°N 13.833°E
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	Pescara (PE)
	Area
- Total	34 km2 (13.1 sq mi)
Elevation	254 m (833 ft)
	Population (December 31, 2005)
- Total	5,558
- Density	163.5/km2 (423.4/sq mi)
- Demonym	Popolesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	65026
Dialing code	085
Patron saint	St. Boniface
Website	Official website

The source of the Pescara with the town of Popoli in the background.

The town of Popoli with ruined castle above.

Popoli is a comune and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

[edit] History

Its Latin name was Castrum Properi (Waystation Fortress), which name was recorded as early as 1016 as the property of Girardo, son of Roccone. The castle above the town was built between 1000 and 1015 for Tidolfo, Bishop of Valva.

Popoli was bombarded twice during World War II by the British Air Force. On 20 January 1944, the most important bridge in the region, the "Julius Caesar" bridge connecting Rome with Pescara, was destroyed. On 22 March 1944 at noon the city center and city hall were destroyed by substantial bombing by the British. Unfortunately, it was a day that rations were being distributed to town at the city hall, and there were long lines of women and children, many of whom were killed or wounded. The day is still remembered with sorrow by the town's inhabitants.

[edit] Main sights

The town and the surrounding area have several objects of interest:

The Taverna Ducale from the mid 14th century ranks among the most beautiful non-church buildings in Abruzzo.
Torre de' Passeri
The abbey of San Clemente a Casauria (12th century )
The church of San Francesco, was begun in the 15th century
The church of Santissima Trinità (1562) with an altar and a wooden choir from 1745
The area around the springs which are the source of the Aterno river is a regionally protected area
The castle ruin above Popoli

[edit] Festivals

The main festivity is in August. The historical parade with people dressed in costume is held in celebration of historical event of the city (1495). The parade is followed by a fair, called "Certamen de la Balestra". Strength and ability are necessary for the knight to win the Certamen or the grand prize.

[edit] References

This article is based in part on material from the German Wikipedia.

[edit] Further reading

Damiani, Fernando (1975) La città di Popoli: memorie storiche ed artistiche (The town of Popoli: Historical and Artistic Memoir) Di Cioccio, Sulmona, Italy, OCLC 2796471, in Italian
Di Donato, Ugo (1980) Popoli e i Popolesi (Popoli and the People of Popoli) Fracasso, Popoli, Italy, OCLC 15314442, in Italian
Hamilton, Mary and Nodier, Charles (1810) La famille du duc de Popoli: mémories de M. de Cantelmo, son frere (The Family of the Duke of Popoli: A Memoir of Monsieur de Cantelmo, his Brother) P. Didot l'áiné, Paris, OCLC 65223502, in French