Thursday 16th May

Thursday 16th May.

Up at around 7 a.m. and Hallelujah! No rain so far today. Made coffee and fruit. The weather started out sunny and after breakfast, Stefania said they awe would have some small excursion today. Firstly to Raiano and then on to Corfinio. 

We went in Stefania’s car and took the Autostrada north west of Cugnoli.

We arrived at the small town of Raiano and were confronted with a sign saying ‘Road Closed’ where we wanted to go. We asked a local who said “Don’t take any notice of that sign” so we proceeded down the narrow roadway for about a mile eventually turning up an even narrower track until we came to the hermitage (eremo) at the end of the road. 

 The hermitage is situated on the side of a ravine through which a small river tumbles over rapids. Unfortunately it was closed and only open on weekends. This was a pity because from the inside you can cross a bridge to the other side of the river. This place warrants coming back to at some time when it is open. The shrine is dedicated to Saint Venanzio of Cameroon who converted to Christianity in the 3rd Century AD and was martyred in 259 AD. The hermitage dates from the 12th Century but has been extensively changed since it was built. The hermitage and monastery straddles the river  and contains caves and niches where legend has it the Saint prayed. Along the road to the hermitage there are three aedicules where the imprint of the Saint’s elbow, head and feet are said to be visible and which are supposed to have healing properties. The Saint’s miracles are also supposed to have spread to nearby Corfinio where he is thought to have suppressed riots by praying to or with stones.

Then we moved on to Corfinio which was originally the location of the important historic city of Corfinium and has the reputation of being the place where the name ‘Italia’ was first imprinted on coins. Although the main cathedral was not open, a large plaque nearby marked the place where a group broke away from Rome and formed the association which they called ‘Italia’. The Region of Abruzzo seemed to be in constant conflict with Rome which essentially ruled the area during the 1st Century A.D. Rome passed laws establishing Roman citizenship on the people of Abruzzo and the Abruzzese rose up and there was what was called the ‘Social War’. As a signal to Rome of their independence, the currency with the word ‘Italia’ was minted. The word ‘Italia’ came from the Etruscan word ‘Italos’ or ‘the Bull’ which animal, together with the Roman she-wolf, was depicted on the coins.
An attractive fountain in Corfinio



The cathedral at Corfinio


The tablet marking the first use of the word Italy

In the city square we found a stall which had a rotisserie cooking chickens and also a wonderful large ‘porchetta’. We purchased three huge Porchetta sandwiches and ate them in the green area in front of the monastery. What a pic nic!!


The church at the Eremo of San Venanzio

The gorge or 'gole' with the torrent rushing through



Our jolly porchetta man

...and his wares

Then we had to get back to Cugnoli as Stefania had to go into Pescara, fetch her grand-daughter from her home in Pescara, take her horse riding, take and fetch Bruno from where his car was being serviced and get back to Cugnoli to cook dinner. This lady is a force of  nature and is completely unstoppable. We did tell her that we could run errands for her, but she said ‘No’.
So, we had a nap and then dinner at LFMD. As usual, delicious, gnocchi and chicken cutlets. 
Tonight we saw the first of the fireflies of the season, Just a couple but hopefully they are the forerunners of many more.

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