Ref.: 23066

Atessa is a rural town set in the hills of the Sangro river valley. It has many picturesque and delightful small alleyways which wind their way up to the top of the town, where there are marvellous views. It is best known for the cathedral of San Leucio and a church on the site is mentioned as far back as the 9th century. There are several hotels here, some decent shopping (though it is a small town) and good restaurants. There are also two surviving town gates _ the Nuova Porta di San Nicola (1779) and the 14th century Porta di San Michele. The latter is flanked by two restored 14th century buildings and leads onto a lovely old road. There is also a delightful small theatre here that you can view within the local town hall. Atessa is midway between the mountains and sea (30 minutes drive to both). The commune population is around 10,600.There are legends that have their roots in the mists of time, combining folklore, history and religion, and whose protagonists are famous men and monstrous mythological figures: this is precisely the case of the town of Atessa. The city now in the province of Chieti, was originally divided into two villages Atessa-Abruzzo-ItalyAte and Tixa separated by a marshy valley that prevented any relationship and exchange among people, especially because in a cave in the middle of the valley lived a fearsome dragon. After sowing death and destruction for a long time in the two villages, the inhabitants decided to seek the intervention of the Bishop of Brindisi, Leucio, already known for defeating a dragon in his city. The man went alone in the lair of the monster, and with one glance, made it kneel down and bound it leaving so for seven days before killing it. The dragon's blood was used by men as a healing potion and the remaining was used to make the marsh a rich and fertile valley. It was only then that the inhabitants of the two villages joined in today's city of Atessa, erecting on the dragon's lair a church in honor of Leucio, who was appointed Saint and Patron of the city. Today in the church is preserved the rib of an ancient mammalian length of 2 meters and many still believe is that of the dragon. Sometimes is just sufficient a little faith to make a legend reality.