Since Roman times there were market fairs in Lanciano, then in the Middle Ages merchants from the Adriatic harbors landed with their merchandise at Ortona and San Vito. On these occasions a skilled, honest man from the aristocracy or bourgeoise was chosen by the four quarters to govern the fair and administer justice; this year the Mastrogiurato costume will be worn by Italian American Thomas Giordano, 44 anni, a descendant of a real Mastrogiurato. A great program this year with many historical groups, and thousands of people expected.

Prof. Francesco Sabatini states that the Maiella Park, that also hosts 30% of the Italian and 15% of the European flora is culturally the richest in Europe: archeological sites, Roman towns, abbeys, churches, castles and citadels. Very rarely both natural and cultural aspects are present side by side, therefore it is important to find a proper interaction between them.

From 25 september to 25 October at the Teatro Marrucino the Fifth festival of dialect theatre with eleven companies from Abruzzo, Umbria, Lazio and Veneto. A company from Boston will perform a play by Raffaele Fraticelli, a poet from Chieti.

For three years now Fossa archaeological site has become an archeology university. One hundred students are working to excavate, study and restore the richest pre-Roman necropolis ever. Over 400 tombs, dated from the 10th to the 1st century B.C. have been found so far. One of the most precious objects a bed in carved bone and ivory. Very soon the area will be turned into an open-air museum.

Letters from everywhere asking the excavations superintendency not to disturb "Romeo" and "Juliet", two skeletons found hand in hand after 3,000 years in the necropolis near Fossa. The event is probably unique. Never before husband and wife have been found together. The position of the tomb suggests they were descendants of the "King of Fossa", whose tomb is yet to be found. The two bodies do not show signs of wounds; there were no riches in the tomb, only love.

"II rassegna dei vini delle nostra cantine" with stands for wine tasting. Also a meeting on the "Quality of grapes for the enology of the next century". This is the period when white grapes are delivered to wineries.

Italian and French scholars will discuss the political relationships between France and Abruzzo, the influence of French on Abruzzese dialects and the draining of Lake Fucino. The meeting will take place from 9 to 12 September in l'Aquila, Avezzano, Tagliacozzo, Pescina and Pescasseroli. Lionello Farinacci will speak about "La dominazione francese dal 1806 al 1815", Sergio Iacoboni about "Il prosciugamento del Fucino e i francesi" and Vittoriano Esposito about "D'Annunzio e la Francia".

« previous --- next»