In Capistrello, Leonessa and Gubbio 124 civilians were killed by German troops; they had been captured while trying to save their livestock endangered by a terrible hailstorm. The responsibles for the mass execution were never found.

Art historian Lorenzo Lorenzi made two volumes on Nicola Ranieri and Ferdinando Palmerio. Accompanied by fine color images, the volumes trace the development of the two artists. Nicola Ranieri (1749-1850), son of peasants, who started painting landscapes then in L'Aquila got acquainted with Raphaelite techniques and in Guardiagrele authored the celebrated Madonna del Latte, in San Rocco, and the Madonna del Suffragio in the Museo Civico. The other painter, Ferdinando Palmerio (1834-1916), was his disciple, and passed on his heritage to his two sons.

From 8 to 21 in piazza San Francesco, before the Town Hall, every Saturday before the fourth Sunday of each month, a street market of antiques, artistic crafts and collectibles.