Tocco da Casauria

Updated June 2021

SHORT HISTORY

Medieval: Tocco da Casauria was founded around 872 at the foothills of the Morrone mountains, under the control of the nearby Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria. It became an important strategic centre in the 13th century. The earthquakes of 1456 and 1706 destroyed much of the town.

Risorgimento: During the Risorgimento movement (Italian unification), King Vittorio Emanuele II stopped in Tocco in 1860 on his way to meet with Garibaldi  for the famous Teano meeting.  The King tried Centerba here, a liquor of 100 local herbs that was created in Tocco by Beniamino Toro in 1817 (history of Centerba here).

WWII: The Germans arrived in Tocco Casauria in September 1943, occupying the town and establishing command in Ricotti palace. Tocco was strategically important as it was near the Bussi and Piano d’Orta electrochemical plants and Via Tiburtina Valeria which connects Rome to Pescara as well as the Pescara-Rome train line. There’s a sad story of Concetta Stromei, who was murdered by the Nazis when she came to the aid of another woman who was being harassed by some German soldiers. Source

Gabriele D’Annunzio (the famous Italian poet and provocateur), drew inspiration for his tragedy La figlia di Iorio, from Tocco where his good friend the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti was born.

Tocco was written up in the New York Times and BBC over 10 years ago as a model for renewable energy. Wind powers the entire town (pop approx 3000). The profit generated from selling surplus electricity into the national grid goes into subsidising local services.

Tocco is known for its production of olive oil. Tocco was one of the first towns to receive D.O.P. status from the EU.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Caracciolo Castle
The castle (also known as the Doge’s Palace) was built between 1187 and 1220 by Frederick II. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1456 and rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Today the municipality owns the castle but it is in a state of disrepair.

Church Sant’Eustachio di Martire with bell tower
Sant’Eustachio is the main church of Tocco built in the 18th century and named after their patron saint. Every 20 September Tocco celebrates their patron saint. The church, along with the castle, is currently under restoration after sustaining damage during the 2009 earthquake.

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Porta della Croce (Door of the Cross)
This is the only surviving gate that remains from the medieval walls, located in Via Rovetone.

Casa Michetti
Birthplace of the famous painter Francesco Paolo Michetti. A modest 19th century art nouveau house it is now a museum.

Via Oriolo – reproductions of the famous painter Francesco Paolo Michetti’s art adorn this street. Michetti was born in Tocco in 1851. The street also contains the Torre dell’orologio – a 13th century clock tower.

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Corso garibaldi – the main street has two interesting palazzi:
Palazzo Toro – Built by Enrico Toro (owner of the distillery that produces Centerba) in the mid-1800s, the residence is still owned by the Toro family and some rooms contain frescoes completed by Michetti. It is also furnished with Neapolitan 19th century style furniture.
Palazzo Ricotti – one of the bases for Nazi occupation in 1943

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Also on Corso Garibaldi is a striking mural dedicated to musicians.

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INTERESTING CHURCHES

Madonna delle Grazie – Founded around 1480, it has a Renaissance rose window.
San Antonio church – 17th century
Cappuccini Church and convent – 16th century. It is currently closed due to damage sustained in the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake

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Convento Santa Maria del Paradiso
About 1km out of Tocco, this convent was built in 1470 by the people of Tocco and donated to Franciscans. It is a Gothic-Renaissance style church with Baroque reconstructions.

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Madonna degli Angeli church

Just outside of Tocco on Strada Provinciale Madonna degli Angeli, lies a quaint church of the same name. A 17th century church, built on the area that was thought to be the Roman town of Interpromium. Archaeological finds in the area such as tombs, coins, nearby Roman walls and pieces of epigraphs in the church pavement attest to the Roman heritage. The church itself was an important one on the transhumanza path (the route shepherds used to move their livestock). The local Archeoclub (Vado del Ceraso, Piano d’Orta) have done extensive study on this church.

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WALKS

Wind Turbine Park (Parco Eolico) Walk
On the road to the Convento Santa Maria del Paradiso is the entrance to a short 20minute but majestic walk amongst the wind turbines and olive trees with great views of Tocco and the Morrone and Majella mountains. More info on walk

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Walks from Tocco to Morrone mountains– it’s possible to do the A8 or A5 paths from Tocco to the Morrone mountains however both walks are EE (for expert hikers).
For more info, consult the Parco Majella website:
A8 – da Tocco da Casauria a Monte Rotondo
A5 – da Tocco da Casauria a Schiena d’Asino

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NOTABLE PEOPLE

Francesco Paolo Michetti – Born in 1851 in Tocco, Michetti was a famous painter and photographer. Michetti drew inspiration for his art from Abruzzo’s people and nature, known for his pastoral scenes and depictions of everyday life. La raccolta delle zucche (The harvest of pumpkins) painting was inspired by the limestone cliffs in nearby Bolognano, he also drew the cover for Primo Levi’s book Forte e gentile. In 1885 Michetti bought a convent in Francavilla al Mare and it became a meeting place for notable Abruzzesi including Gabriele D’Annunzio, Benedetto Croce and Paolo Tosti. His former house is now a museum. Via Oriolo, a street in Tocco, features reproductions of his art amongst the stone houses.

Mario Lanza – Mario Lanza’s mother hailed from Tocco. Lanza was a famous tenor and American actor in the 1940s-1950s. A street in Tocco is named after him and an opera festival is held every August in his honour.

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MORE INFO

Tocco da Causaria – Wikipedia (Italian)

Tocco da Casauria – municipal site

Public transport – Tocco can be reached by taking the train to Torre dei Passeri station (Pescara to Sulmona line) and then a bus to Tocco. For timetables, check Trenitalia for trains and TUA Abruzzo site for buses.