What to see in Atri

Atri, an Abruzzo town, is very much loved by visitors who have rediscovered it in recent years, so to speak. Atri is a small medieval pearl, a town of art of very ancient origin, looking out over the sea from above, protected behind Gran Sasso. Its location is ideal as it is only 10 km from clean beaches and 30 km from the mountains. There are several things to visit if you have the opportunity to come here. Among these are: the historic center, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Palazzo Acquaviva, the Palazzo Mambelli, the Bishop's Palace and the Seminary, the Municipal Theatre and on a naturalistic level, the Calanchi di Atri, small canyons really suggestive.

Historical center

It is in the centre of the town that the charm of its long history continues to exert its evocative force: monuments and historical palaces, fortifications, churches, museums, suggestive views, these are the many pieces of a splendid historical and architectural mosaic. Take a stroll through the medieval alleys and churches, then relax with a good red wine from the area in an outdoor bar.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

In the heart of the city, in Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to 1285 and recently restored, has been standing out for centuries. Its four 13th century portals are of remarkable craftsmanship, while the inside with three naves has a square apse with a wonderful cycle of frescoes by the 15th century Abruzzo artist Andrea Delitio. The annexed Cathedral Museum preserves precious relics: painted majolica, crosses and pastoral works of ivory and silver, illuminated codices, statues and hundreds of fragments and mosaics from the most ancient buildings. The two orders cloister and the bell tower, which was completed in the fifteenth century by Antonio da Lodi, are also splendid.

Palazzo Acquaviva Palace

The Acquaviva Palace, also known as the ducal palace, was built by Count Antonio Acquaviva in 1395 on the basis of pre-existing Roman buildings and until 1760 was the residence of the Acquaviva d' Aragona family, dukes of Atri. Since 1917, the Town Hall has been housed there. Known for its characteristic medieval tower, it gives its name to the square in front of it (Piazza Acquaviva). Giulio Antonio Acquaviva distinguished himself in the battle of Otranto in 1480 against the Turks, earning the Acquaviva family the prestigious name of "d' Aragona".

The facade of the palace is made of massive travertine stones, from which the tower rises. In 1707 it was sacked by the Austrians of Charles III, who destroyed the frescoes and stole the precious paintings of Titian and Veronese. In the inner courtyard, theatre of numerous summer events, the well stands out, which communicates with a pre-existing Roman cistern, the former stables and the bust of Beato Rodolfo D'Acquaviva d' Aragona (Atri, 1550? Coculin, 1583), Jesuit and martyr in India, who used to pray in the nearby chapel of San Liberatore. On the back of the palace there is a beautiful garden. Today, the Palazzo dei Duchi D' Acquaviva houses the Town Hall of Atri, the Faculty of Sport and Sports Management (headquarters of the University of Teramo) and the headquarters of the Calanchi di Atri Nature Reserve.

Mambelli Palace

Also in Piazza Duomo you will find Palazzo Mambelli. This palace dates back to the mid-eighteenth century, although it has undergone alterations over time. The beautiful portico is still the old building. Palazzo Mambelli houses works by the sculptor Francesco Paolo Evangelista.

Episcopal Palace and Seminary

The Bishop's Palace, in front of the southern flank of the Cathedral, was erected in the second half of the sixteenth century by Bishop Paolo Odescalchi, coming from a wealthy family of Como and it is for this reason that its coat of arms is located above the entrance door. On the right is the former seminary, built to observe the decree of the Council of Trent. Atri was one of the first dioceses to establish the seminary, even if it was not before ever. In the past, the palace was joined to the monumental complex of the Duomo by an arch that reinforced the statics between the two buildings and offered a barrier to the cold winds and then demolished. It was used by the Bishop to arrive in the Cathedral from the inside when there were weather conditions or the possibility of attacks.

Municipal Theatre

Also in Piazza del Duomo, perfectly preserved is the nineteenth-century Municipal Theatre (opened on January 25,1881), also known as the "wedding favors" for its size (300 seats) and the enviable acoustics. The outside is the Teatro della Scala in Milan, while the inside seems to be reminiscent of the "San Carlo" in Naples, with its three tiers of stages and the gallery. The stages feature hand-carved wooden inlays carved by Raffaele Del Bello and Gerardo Gerardini, painted by Pietro Giovanetti and then decorated by Giuseppe Manaresi. The initial project included a large atrium with coffee to testify to the desire to make the theatre an element of the urban fabric. The theatre has been fundamental in local social life, hosting several exceptional events such as Verdi's Rigoletto performance in 1886, Bizet's Carmen premiere in 1887 and Atri's Great Musical Band debut in 1948. Throughout his life, the theatre has seen everything: prose, lyrics, concerts, school essays, Carnival banners, end-of-year celebrations, elections, farewell parties, commemorations of the warfalls that almost always took place in the foyer, a large hall located above the atrium for cultural purposes and illuminated by three large windows. In 1944, the theatre was a dormitory for English troops. From 1939 to 1948 it was transformed into a cinematic theatre, experiencing a period of degradation.

The Calanques of Atri

Between art and nature, the landscape of the hills of Atri is fascinating for the spectacular presence of the Calanchi, real "natural sculptures" born from the millenary erosion of clay soil. It's a sort of canyon really impressive. The panorama takes on the tones and colours of Dante's "bolgia", the scenery seems almost "lunar" shaped by these extraordinary geological formations. The gullies originated as a result of the erosion of clay soil caused by past deforestation and favoured by the continuous desiccation and runoff, which make many marine fossils visible. Although it is a rather recurrent phenomenon in the Adriatic landscape only here the gullies are spectacular and reach considerable dimensions. The area is Regional Nature Reserve and WWF Oasis. The interior of the protected area is characterized by a very varied environment: cliffs, ponds, small woods, cultivated fields alternate continuously, forming a palette of changing colors. Finally, the mystery surrounding the so-called "Stone of St. Paul", the taumaturgic monolith preserved in a small chapel that legend has it that is the stone on which Paolo di Tarso was beheaded in 67 A. D., also contributes to the charm of the places.

For a restorative stopover, see the page dedicated to restaurants in Atri. To understand how to reach the city, read How to get to Atri.

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