Sponsored by Casale - Villa Rental in Abruzzo Italy

CASALE     Definition:   A rustic house typically found in a small hamlet or the countryside.


The property takes its name from its location on Via del Casale in Valle San Giovanni, a small town located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Teramo (population 53,000), the capital city of one of the four provinces of the Abruzzo region.  It is midway between the Adriatic Sea (25 km/15 miles) and the Gran Sasso (20 km/12 miles), the highest peak in the Apennine mountain range.  Rome is about 176 km/110 miles away.  An airport in Pescara is located about 48 miles/80 km to the south.

Valle San Giovanni is a quiet town of about 300 people. The residents of "La Valle" refer to themselves as Vallaroli and are the nicest people in the world!  Many have relatives who emigrated to southern New Jersey and Montreal.

Casale sits by itself at the end of a short alley off the main piazza.  This provides a sense of serenity when desired while still allowing plenty of contact with the lovely townspeople.  In days past friendly Pasquale could be seen looking out of the corner of his eye as you pass by for your passeggiata (stroll).  The town has a church ("chiesa"), one bar (Bar Novanta) run by Francesca and Giovanni, a grocery store (alimentari) owned by Paolo , Irma’s fruit and vegetable store (fruttivendolo), a post office branch (Ufficio Postale), and a hardware store (ferramenta) run by Leonardo.  There are several restaurants within a 3-7 km driving distance.

Casale was completed in August, 2004.  The interior area is 62 square meters (667 square feet).  There are two bedrooms (one with a matrimonial bed and a second with two twin beds), a living room with a couch that folds out into a double bed (this is where Stefano sleeps as it is extremely comfortable, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom with an enclosed shower. There is a wood burning stove for heating and a washing machine.  A ceiling fan cools things a bit in the summer.  The screens on the windows were expensive but work well.   

Parking is in the piazza about 90ft/30 meters away.  Crime in the town is virtually nonexisitent.  Gossiping in the town is plenty existent.  This will not be a problem for you but I will hear stories after you leave so behave yourself!  Guests enjoy a patio with an unobstructed view of Valle Soprana (no known relation to Tony Soprano!).  A bus runs several times per day between Valle San Giovanni and Teramo.

Casale is a great place to center your vist to Abruzzo while at the same time a perfect getaway from major tourist attractions.  It provides peace and tranquility as well as the opportunity to take enjoyable daytrips to nearby beaches, fortress towns, and mountains.

The onsite manager is Paolo who speaks English and will answer all your questions.

'''Teramo''' is a city in the central [[Italy|Italian]] region  of [[Abruzzo]], the capital of the [[province of Teramo.   The town iss situated near the confluence of the Vezzola and [[Tordino]] rivers and is a very old city, founded in pre-[[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times, though the   general aspect is more recent, due to many [[19th century|19th-]] and 20th century buildings.                                                                                       

Since for a long time it was a border place between the [[Kingdom of the     Two Sicilies]] and the [[Papal States]], it acquired a separate identity and, because of the difficult communications with the other parts of Italy, it stayed isolated for long periods of time. The [[Gran Sasso]] tunnel recently allowed Teramo to move out of this isolation.                                                                                               

The economy of the town is mostly based on activities connected with agriculture and commerce, as well as a sound industrial sector: textiles, foods, engineering, building materials and ceramics.  Teramo can easily be reached from the A14 [[autostrada]] or, in about two hours by car from [[Rome]] via the A24 autostrada.                                                                                             

                                                                                           
[[Interamna]] ([[Greek language|Greek]]: {{polytonic|Ἰντέραμνα}}: [[ethnonym|Eth.]] Interamnas, Interamnātis), was the name of several cities in different parts of Italy. Its obvious etymology, already pointed out by [[Marcus Terentius Varro|Varro]] and [[Sextus Pompeius Festus|Festus]], indicates their position at the confluence of two streams ("inter amnes", Varr. ''L. L.'' v.28, Fest. ''v.'' Amnes, p. 17, Müll.) The form Interamnium (Greek: {{polytonic|Ἰντεράμνιον}}), and the ethnic form Interamnis, are also found, but more rarely.  The name referred to the two rivers Vezzola and Tordino, between which it lies.                                                                                          

The name is already corrupted in extant manuscripts of the ''Liber Coloniarum'' into '''Teramne''', whence its modern form of Teramo. But in the middle ages it appears to have been known also by the name of '''Aprutium''', supposed to be a corruption of '''Praetutium''', or rather of the name of the people [[Praetutii]], applied (as was so often the case in [[Gaul]]) to their chief city. Thus we find the name of '''Abrutium''' among the cities of [[Picenum]] enumerated by the ''Geographer of Ravenna'' (iv. 31); and under the [[Lombards]] we find mention of a '''''comes Aprutii'''''. The name has been retained in that of Abruzzo, now a region of Italy.

Interamna was founded by the [[Praetutii]] (who according to some ancient legends were possibly connected to the [[Phoenicia]]ns, although most scholars consider them related to another nearby [[Italic peoples|Italic tribe]], the [[Piceni]]) as their capital. The name is omitted by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], but is found in [[Ptolemy]], who distinctly assigns it to the Praetutii; and it is mentioned also in the ''Liber Coloniarum'' among the ''Civitates Piceni'' (cities of [[Picenum]]). It there bears the epithet of "Palestina" or, as the name is elsewhere written, "Paletina"; the origin and meaning of which are wholly unknown but may be related to legendary associations between the Praetutii and the Phoenicians. (Ptol. iii. 1. § 58; Lib. Col. pp. 226, 259.) In the genuine fragments of [[Frontinus]], on the other hand, the citizens are correctly designated as ''Interamnates Praetutiani''.  

It was conquered by consul [[Curius Dentatus|Manius Curius Dentatus]] in [[290 BCE]], and made a ''Municipium''. During the [[Social War (91–88 BC)|Social War]] ([[91 BC|91]]-[[88 BCE]]) it sided against [[Sulla]], who deprived it of its municipium status. The latter was restored by [[Julius Caesar]]. Being situated in the interior of the country, at a distance from the highroads, the name is not found in the Itineraries, but we know that it was an [[episcopal see]] and a place of some importance under the [[Roman Empire]]. Vestiges of the ancient theatre, of baths and other buildings of Roman date, as well as statues, altars, and other ancient remains, have been discovered on the site: numerous inscriptions have been also found, in one of which the citizens are designated as ''Interamnites Praetutiani''. (Romanelli, vol iii. pp. 297-301; [[Mommsen]], ''I. R. N.'' pp. 329-331.)

The city rapidly declined after the [[Western Roman Empire|fall of the Western Empire]] and, following Goth and Byzantine domination, became part of the territories of the [[Lombards|Lombard]] [[Duchy of Spoleto]]. In [[1156]] it was put on fire by Norman Count Robert of Loretello and then rebuilt thanks to Bishop Guido II. In the [[14th century|14th-]] and [[15th century|15th centuries]] it was plagued by feuds between local families which finally ended under the Aragonese dominion. After that it shared the fortunes of the [[Kingdom of Naples]] – under which it was the capital of the province of ''Abruzzo Ulteriore'' – until in [[1860]] it was annexed to the [[Italy|Kingdom of Italy]]. 

During [[World War II]] the people of Teramo rebelled against the German occupation. This deed earned the province of Teramo the Gold Medal for Civil Valour, assigned by [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]] on [[September 15]], [[2005]].  The town was liberated from forces of the [[Nazi]]s and fascists of [[Republic of Salò|Salò]] on [[June 14]], [[1944]].

==Main sights==
[[Image:Teramo0001.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bell tower of the Cathedral of [[Saint Berardo|San Berardo]].]]
[[image:Teramo0002.jpg|thumb|250px|The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie.]]
The main monuments of the city are:
*the majestic Cathedral of [[Saint Berardo|San Berardo]], built in 1158 by bishop Guido II, in [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style. Noteworthy is the great portal in Gothic style, finished in 1332 by the Roman master Deodato di Cosma. It houses a precious silver ''paliotto'' by Nicola of Guardagriele (with 35 scenes of the life of Jesus) and a [[polyptych]] by the Venetian artist Jacobello del Fiore depicting the ''Incoronation of the Virgin''. Annexed is a 50 m bell tower.
*the Romanesque church of ì''Sant'Antonio'' (1127), with a fine portal. The interior, with a single nave, was renovated along Baroque lines.
*the church of ''San Getulio'', built in the early Middle Ages on the ruins of a Roman temple, finally destroyed in 1155 by the Normans. Only the presbyterium and some Romanesque elements remain of the original building.
*the church of ''San Domenico'' (14th century) with a fine ''Virgin with Child''.
*the sanctuary of the ''Madonna delle Grazie'' (also known as ''Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie''), next to a Franciscan convent in the Frondarola borough. It has a notable Romanesque cloister and a 15th century miraculous wooden statue of the Virgin, attributed to Silvestro dell'Aquila.
*the ''Palazzo Vescovile'' ("Bishops Palace"), from the 14th century.
*the remains of the Roman theatre (built about 30 BCE) and of the amphitheatre (about 3rd-4th century CE). The former still today hosts sports and cultural events.

==Culture==
An art exhibit, Maggio Festeggiante, is held each May.  The summer calendar of events is very rich, with the Teramo Literary Prize and the Interamnia Handball Cup, an international event with athletes coming from all over the world.  A week in October is dedicated to an important international photography of film show.    

The region of Teramo also houses an important [[astronomical observatory]], entitled to [[Vincenzo Cerulli]].

==Notable people==
People born in or around Teramo include:
*[[Berardo da Pagliara]], (?-1123), [[bishop]] and [[patron saint]] of the city and diocese
*[[Melchiorre Delfico]], (1744-1835), [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] philosopher
*Giacinto Pannella, (1847-1927), author
*Ivan Graziani, (1945-1997), singer-songwriter
*[[Giacinto Pannella, detto Marco]] (1930-now), europolitician
*Francesco Possenti, (1838-1861), also known as [[Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows]].   Patron saint of Abruzzo
*[[Marco Reginelli]], (1897-1956) underworld boss
*[[Felice Centofanti]], (1969-present), a former [[soccer]] player

==Neighborhoods of Teramo==

==''[[Frazioni]]''==
*Cannelli, Caprafico, Castagneto, Castrogno, Cavuccio, Cerreto, Chiareto, Colle Caruno, Colleatterrato Alto, Colleminuccio, Colle Santa Maria, Forcella (located about 11 kilometers from Teramo and dominating the Vomano Valley, [[Frondarola]], Galeotti, Garrano, Garrano Basso, Magnanella, Miano, [[Monticelli]], [[Nepezzano]], Pantaneto, Poggio Cono, Piano D'Accio, Piano della Lenta, Poggio San Vittorino, Ponzano, Putignano, Rapino, Rocciano, Rupo, Sardinara, Saccoccia, San Nicolò a Tordino (important industrial zone located along the axis joining Teramo to the sea), San Pietro ad Lacum, Sant'Atto, [[Scapriano]], Sciusciano, Sorrenti, Spiano, [[Tofo Sant'Eleuterio]], Tordinia, Turri, [[Valle San Giovanni]], [[Valle Soprana]], Varano, Villa Falchini, Villa Gesso, [[Villa Ripa]], Villa Romita, Villa Stanghieri, Villa Taraschi, Villa Viola, [[Villa Vomano]] (located in the Vomano valley and an important link to the autostrada).