Bugnara
Encyclopedia
Bugnara is a comune
and village
of 1,193 people in the Province of L'Aquila
in the Abruzzo
region of Italy
. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy
(i borghi piu' belli d'Italia), an association that notes small Italian towns of strong artistic and historical interest.
.
The village is located between local hub Sulmona
and the popular tourist destination of Scanno. Buses run from Scanno, past Bugnara, and on to Sulmona
and Rome
.
Bugnara is at the feet of Colle Rotondo (912 metres) and Monte Genzana (over 2000 metres), a ridge which runs from Scanno to Introdacqua
. Trails lead up the mountain from Bugnara. Its territory goes up to the Sagittario river to the north. It overlooks the whole Peligna valley, with its buildings clustered around the Ducal Castle, known as the Castello Ducale or the Rocca dello Scorpione.
Bugnara is situated near the Gran Sasso d'Italia, which is the largest Italian mountain south of the Alps. Bugnara is also near Roccaraso
, a popular ski resort.
. This is supported by the fact that a pagan temple once stood where the Madonna della Neve church now stands. Of the temple we can still see today Roman flooring in a herringbone pattern or Opus spicatum
. A carving found at the site has decorations showing priestesses undertaking a rite.
Another hypothesis is that Bugnara comes from "Vignae Ara" thanks to the cultivation of vines around the village.
(fortified settlement) became the fiefdom
of Simone di Sangro. It remained with the Sangro family until the extinction of their line in 1759 with Vittoria Mariconda di Sangro. In the 11th century the ducal palace or Palazzo Ducale was built by the Sangro family. They also rebuilt the Madonna della Neve church in 1361. The Sangros' power spread into the neighbouring settlements of Anversa degli Abruzzi
, Frattura, Chiarana, but they didn't succeed in holding these territories.
In 1442 a feudal tribute called the Regia Dogana della Mena delle Pecore di Foggia was imposed. This had a major impact on Bugnara, given that it was dependent on agriculture.
In 1706, in 1933 and in 1984 Bugnara was involved in major earthquakes. In particular the 1984 earthquake affected the village, and the historic churches of Bugnara were in accessible for a long time afterwards.
In 1891 a train line and station were built by Bugnara. The tall rail bridge over the Sagittario was blown up during World War II
as it was seen as a link to Rome
. The bridge was later reconstructed.
In 1974 an important historic and artistic artefact was rediscovered: the 13th century sculpture of the Virgin and Child called the Madonna delle Concanelle from the Madonna della Neve church. It is now conserved in the National Museum of Abruzzo which is housed in the Forte Spagnolo
in L'Aquila
.
Called "Hearts under the stars," Romantica is an all-night celebration with various specialist drink and food stalls, dancing, live music, a catwalk show, floral displays, theatrical events and photo exhibitions. The best florists in the world compete to decorate the historic town centre of Bugnara setting the scene for a unique event.
A 'sagra' is a celebration of a special local product. They are common in the summer in Abruzzo. This event is dedicated to Bugnara's most archetypal product: Pecorino
cheese - a hard, full-flavoured, sheep's milk cheese. Bugnara Pecorino is particularly special because it has its origins in rich mountain pastures where only certain herbs grow, giving it its flavour.
This event in the hamlet of Torre dei Nolfi (part of the territory of Bugnara) celebrates the shared customs of an agricultural community, re-enacting the ancient tradition of "trebbiatura" or threshing of the grain using antique tools of the pre-industrial era. There are food stalls with local specialities.
The aim of this pre-Christmas event is to collect money for a charity which is chosen each year. Every organisation, school and other body of Bugnara arranges a market stall with artigianal products or foods.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
and village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of 1,193 people in the Province of L'Aquila
L'Aquila
L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
in the Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy
The most beautiful villages in Italy
The most beautiful villages in Italy , is an Association that notes small Italian towns of strong artistic and historical interest...
(i borghi piu' belli d'Italia), an association that notes small Italian towns of strong artistic and historical interest.
Geography
Coming from the direction of the beautiful gorge of the Sagittario river, Bugnara is the first village in the conch-shaped Peligna valley. It is on the ancient Samnite road which leads to Scanno and Villetta BarreaVilletta Barrea
Villetta Barrea is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy...
.
The village is located between local hub Sulmona
Sulmona
thumb|150px|Celestine V's hermitage and the remains of the Shrine of Hercules Curinus.thumb|150px|Palazzo SS. Annunziata and Museo Civicothumb|150px|Church of SS...
and the popular tourist destination of Scanno. Buses run from Scanno, past Bugnara, and on to Sulmona
Sulmona
thumb|150px|Celestine V's hermitage and the remains of the Shrine of Hercules Curinus.thumb|150px|Palazzo SS. Annunziata and Museo Civicothumb|150px|Church of SS...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Bugnara is at the feet of Colle Rotondo (912 metres) and Monte Genzana (over 2000 metres), a ridge which runs from Scanno to Introdacqua
Introdacqua
Introdacqua is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy...
. Trails lead up the mountain from Bugnara. Its territory goes up to the Sagittario river to the north. It overlooks the whole Peligna valley, with its buildings clustered around the Ducal Castle, known as the Castello Ducale or the Rocca dello Scorpione.
Bugnara is situated near the Gran Sasso d'Italia, which is the largest Italian mountain south of the Alps. Bugnara is also near Roccaraso
Roccaraso
Roccaraso is a town and comune of the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.-External links:***...
, a popular ski resort.
Origins of the name Bugnara
Although no one knows for certain the origins of the name Bugnara, there are various hypotheses which derive the term from "Bonae Ara", indicating an altar dedicated to the good mother goddess Bona or CeresCERES
CERES may refer to:* California Environmental Resources Evaluation System * Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies of the University of Toronto...
. This is supported by the fact that a pagan temple once stood where the Madonna della Neve church now stands. Of the temple we can still see today Roman flooring in a herringbone pattern or Opus spicatum
Opus spicatum
Opus spicatum, literally "spiked work," is a type of masonry construction used in Roman and medieval times. It consists of bricks, tiles or cut stone laid in a herringbone pattern.-Uses:...
. A carving found at the site has decorations showing priestesses undertaking a rite.
Another hypothesis is that Bugnara comes from "Vignae Ara" thanks to the cultivation of vines around the village.
History
The earliest documented evidence of Bugnara dates to the 6th century, although archaeological finds show that the settlement was inhabited much earlier. In the year 1000AD the Madonna della Neve church was built. In 1079 the borgoBorgo
Borgo is an Italian word , cognate with English borough, German Burg, French bourg, that now usually means the new town outside the walls of an old town...
(fortified settlement) became the fiefdom
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
of Simone di Sangro. It remained with the Sangro family until the extinction of their line in 1759 with Vittoria Mariconda di Sangro. In the 11th century the ducal palace or Palazzo Ducale was built by the Sangro family. They also rebuilt the Madonna della Neve church in 1361. The Sangros' power spread into the neighbouring settlements of Anversa degli Abruzzi
Anversa degli Abruzzi
Anversa degli Abruzzi is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy-Points of interest:* Giardino Botanico Gole del Sagittario* Botanical Garden at the Sorgenti del Cavuto...
, Frattura, Chiarana, but they didn't succeed in holding these territories.
In 1442 a feudal tribute called the Regia Dogana della Mena delle Pecore di Foggia was imposed. This had a major impact on Bugnara, given that it was dependent on agriculture.
In 1706, in 1933 and in 1984 Bugnara was involved in major earthquakes. In particular the 1984 earthquake affected the village, and the historic churches of Bugnara were in accessible for a long time afterwards.
In 1891 a train line and station were built by Bugnara. The tall rail bridge over the Sagittario was blown up during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as it was seen as a link to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The bridge was later reconstructed.
In 1974 an important historic and artistic artefact was rediscovered: the 13th century sculpture of the Virgin and Child called the Madonna delle Concanelle from the Madonna della Neve church. It is now conserved in the National Museum of Abruzzo which is housed in the Forte Spagnolo
Forte Spagnolo
The Forte Spagnolo is a Renaissance castle in L'Aquila, central Italy.- History :...
in L'Aquila
L'Aquila
L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
.
Urban layout
The village takes the triangular format typical of the Mediaeval period. The houses, built entirely in stone, were constructed one against the other. Narrow streets climb toward the top of the village, where the castle sits. Around the village are tratturi - pastoral routes for the migration of sheep between summer and winter pastures. These would have been heavily used in times gone by.Churches
- Madonna della Neve. The church, also known as the Madonna delle Concanelle, has three naves, supported by gothic arches. Tradition states that the church was built on the site of a pagan temple dedicated to CeresCeres (mythology)In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships. She was originally the central deity in Rome's so-called plebeian or Aventine Triad, then was paired with her daughter Proserpina in what Romans described as "the Greek rites of Ceres"...
, who was worshiped by the Peligna valley people in thanks for the harvest. This hypothesis was supported by the finding of two carvings showing a priestess, named on one carving as Helvia, and on the other carving shown performing a rite. - Santissimo Rosario church. The church sits in the piazza of the same name and was built between the 16th century and the 17th century. The single-nave BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
interior is bright and colourful with a carved wooden pulpit, marble sculptures, gilded detail, frescoes and 16th century stucco decoration. The highlight is the carved marble altar. With its many colours and sense of motion, it is a prime example of the Abruzzan Baroque style. - Madonna degli Angeli church. Found near the Madonna della Neve church, this small 14th century church holds a frescoed tryptich about the Madonna.
- Madonna delle Grazie church. Found in the suburb of the same name, this church is linked to the railway workers of the nearby station.
- San Francesco da Paola church. This chapel is in the Pescara suburb of the territory and belonged to the Paparelli-Corrado family. The priest Angelo Paparelli had it build in 1818.
- Santa Maria della Pace church. Also known as Santa Maria di Pietraluna, this church is found in Torre dei Nolfi, a nearby village which falls under the territory of Bugnara. It was built by local residents in 1871.
- Madonna del Buon Consiglio church. Also at Torre dei Nolfi, this church was the property of the Alesi di Villapiana barons.
- San Giuseppe church. Found in the hamlet of the same name, on the banks of the Sagittario river, this small church has been recently restored. It is well-loved by local people.
Civic and fortified buildings
Palaces:- Ducal palace or Palazzo Ducale di Sangro, also known as Rocca dello Scorpione and Castello Ducale Medievale. The large castle at the summit of the village was build in the 12th century by the di Sangro family, who inhabited it until 1500AD. It is walled, with two towers. It offered protection to the people of Bugnara under siege.
- Palazzo Corrado
- Palazzo Alesi Villapiana
- Palazzo Papi
Archaeological sites
- Roman villa in the Santo Stefano zone of Bugnara, identified by historian Antonio De Nino in 1887. De Nino described a settlement with a wine cellar and Roman inscriptions. In 1980-81 excavations uncovered walls in opus incertumOpus incertumthumb|280px|Layers of opus incertum on the left side of the Temple of Iovis Anxur in [[Terracina]], [[Italy]].Opus incertum was an ancient Roman construction technique, using irregular shaped and random placed uncut stones or fist-sized tuff blocks inserted in a core of Opus caementicium.Initially...
, columns, anfora, herringbone floors in opus spicatumOpus spicatumOpus spicatum, literally "spiked work," is a type of masonry construction used in Roman and medieval times. It consists of bricks, tiles or cut stone laid in a herringbone pattern.-Uses:...
and seven doliumDoliumA dolium is a large earthenware vase or container used in ancient Roman times for storage or transportation of goods.-Description:...
(large earthenware containers) which would be typical of a country villa.
Village events
- Romantica and the International Florists' Festival
Called "Hearts under the stars," Romantica is an all-night celebration with various specialist drink and food stalls, dancing, live music, a catwalk show, floral displays, theatrical events and photo exhibitions. The best florists in the world compete to decorate the historic town centre of Bugnara setting the scene for a unique event.
- Sagra del Formaggio Pecorino di Bugnara
A 'sagra' is a celebration of a special local product. They are common in the summer in Abruzzo. This event is dedicated to Bugnara's most archetypal product: Pecorino
Pecorino
Pecorino is the name of a family of hard Italian cheeses made from ewe's milk. The word derives from pecora meaning ‘sheep’, also from the Latin pecora meaning livestock....
cheese - a hard, full-flavoured, sheep's milk cheese. Bugnara Pecorino is particularly special because it has its origins in rich mountain pastures where only certain herbs grow, giving it its flavour.
- Sagra del Grano
This event in the hamlet of Torre dei Nolfi (part of the territory of Bugnara) celebrates the shared customs of an agricultural community, re-enacting the ancient tradition of "trebbiatura" or threshing of the grain using antique tools of the pre-industrial era. There are food stalls with local specialities.
- Fiera del Gusto e della Solidarietà or Christmas Market of Flavours and Solidarity
The aim of this pre-Christmas event is to collect money for a charity which is chosen each year. Every organisation, school and other body of Bugnara arranges a market stall with artigianal products or foods.