Overview
Nestled among the vineyards and olive groves that carpet the hills of the Ortona hinterland, Arielli in the province of Chieti ogles the Maiella on one side and the Adriatic Sea on the other. A wonderful location for you, continually seeking quiet locations and at the same time rich in landscapes and varied destinations.
To reach the village drive along the Adriatic state highway along the coast from Pescara to Termoli and then turn right for about 20 kilometres, rising gently over the soft blue sea.
Here is the village, modern and dynamic, whose traces of the past were almost all destroyed during World War II, but which over the years, especially thanks to the production of excellent wines (Arielli is part of the National Association of Wine Cities), and fine oils, has become an important social and economic gathering place.
Take a walk in the "4 Seasons" community garden, and experience the walk called "nature trail" to learn about the city environment and just if for a day become part of the community.
Among the churches, visit the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, restored between 1988 and 1992, which houses important sculptural works by Tonino Santeusanio, an artist from Crecchio, and the branch church of the Madonna delle Grazie, with an all-in-one terracotta statue dated 1590-1600: a very rare work to find, in Abruzzo and in Italy. Thanks to its artistic importance and the great devotion of the faithful, it was solemnly crowned, by papal decree, on August 8, 1909.
Another polychrome wooden statue depicting a Madonna and Child can be admired in the shrine of Madonna delle Grazie, while in the town there are remnants of the ancient past that escaped the bombs, such as the remains of the medieval castle, built between 800 and 1000, and the church of San Rocco and San Michele dating back to the 13th century.
Space is given to the typical cuisine of the province of Chieti, of which Arielli is a valid representative. Maccheroni alla chitarra seasoned with a mixed meat sauce of beef, pork or lamb. The so-called strascinate turnips, first soaked in cold water, then boiled with browned garlic and sautéed in a pan with oil and chili pepper, and fiadoni among the most noted recipes prepared by families in the province. These are rustic ravioli-shaped dumplings prepared with a dough of eggs, oil, white wine and flour, with a filling made of various cheeses, mainly hard ones such as pecorino, eggs and different spices.
The quality and variety of wines speak for themselves in a "wine town," so all you have to do is taste Montepulciano, Cerasuolo and Trebbiano, liquid rulers of the territory, declined according to the winemaking art of the dozens of wineries in and around Arielli.
What else to see:
- The church of Santa Brigida
- The church of San Romano Martire