Pineto
Encyclopedia
Pineto is a town and comune
in the province of Teramo
, Abruzzo
, central Italy
. It is a 20th century seaside resort
on the Adriatic coast, with sandy beaches shaded by pine trees that give their name to the town.
The Tower of Cerrano (Torre di Cerrano) is 2 km from the town centre, at the town's southern border with Silvi Marina
. It was built in the 16th century by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V as a watch tower to guard against attacks from the Turks and others based in what is now Croatia, 100 km across the Adriatic. Today, the tower houses a modern sea-biology laboratory. Future plans for this location by the Ministry of Environment, the Administration of the Province, the Administration of the City and the University of Teramo include a Sea Park.
D'Annunzio Street houses the patrician neo-classical style residences of Villa Marucci, Villa Pretaroli, Villa Caccianini and Villa Padula in Venetian style.
), which is up in the hills behind Mutignano. Mutignano is a hill town and former capoluogo of the area, that grew up in the shadow of Atri. The town has a 15th century Romanesque church dedicated to San Silvestro, and a Baroque church of San Antonio. San Silvestro contains a mural, Tavola San Silvestro e sue storie, painted by the artist Andrea De Litio who is believed to have been born in Abruzzo.
Things started to change with the arrival of the "smooth sea road" in the early 19th century, which prompted the Filiani family to build a summer residence, the Villa Filiani. With the arrival of the Adriatic railway in 1860, this became the headquarters of their agricultural estates and industrial interests. There was much discussion whether the station should be in Atri or in the comune of Mutignano; Giacinto Filiani granted land for the construction of the Atri-Mutignano station and the prosperity of the area was ensured. Filiani built shops at the station approach, and a small community developed, but there was relatively little residential development until after World War I.
In the early 1920s Luigi Filiani decided to develop the area as a beach resort, enhanced by the planting of pine trees. Despite opposition from the then mayor of Mutignano, in May 1923 he received a concession from the Maritime Agency to plant a pine wood that would revert to the State after 25 years. Filiani levelled the ground and planted 2000 umbrella pine
s (Pinus pinea) along the beach. He went on to plant pine trees, holm oak
s and laurel
on the surrounding hills.
Hitherto, the coast between the Filiani house and Torre di Cerrano was variously known as Atri-Mutignano or Villa Filiani. Inspired by the poem La Poggia nel Pineto ("Rain in the Pinewood") by Gabriele d'Annunzio
, Filiani changed the name to Pineto in 1925. In 1929 it replaced Mutignano as capoluogo of the comune.
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:...
in the province of Teramo
Province of Teramo
The Province of Teramo is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of 1,948 km², a population of 296,063 , and is subdivided into 47 comunes , see Comunes of the Province of Teramo...
, 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...
, central 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 a 20th century seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
on the Adriatic coast, with sandy beaches shaded by pine trees that give their name to the town.
Geography
Pineto is known as one of the Sette Sorelle ("Seven Sisters"), seven Adriatic beach resorts in the province of Teramo; from north to south they are Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatico, Tortoreto, Giulianova, Roseto degli Abruzzo, Pineto and Silvi Marina. Pineto's beaches have received the "Blue Flag" (by the Foundation for Environmental Education - signifying water quality) in many years including 2007.The Tower of Cerrano (Torre di Cerrano) is 2 km from the town centre, at the town's southern border with Silvi Marina
Silvi Marina
Silvi is an Italian comune in the province of Teramo, about 15 km north of Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It stretches from Silvi Marina, a small seaside resort on the Adriatic Coast, to Silvi Paese up in the hills....
. It was built in the 16th century by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V as a watch tower to guard against attacks from the Turks and others based in what is now Croatia, 100 km across the Adriatic. Today, the tower houses a modern sea-biology laboratory. Future plans for this location by the Ministry of Environment, the Administration of the Province, the Administration of the City and the University of Teramo include a Sea Park.
D'Annunzio Street houses the patrician neo-classical style residences of Villa Marucci, Villa Pretaroli, Villa Caccianini and Villa Padula in Venetian style.
History
In front of the Torre di Cerrano lie remains of the port used by the Roman town of Adria (now AtriAtri, Italy
Atri is a comune in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It has a population of over 11,500...
), which is up in the hills behind Mutignano. Mutignano is a hill town and former capoluogo of the area, that grew up in the shadow of Atri. The town has a 15th century Romanesque church dedicated to San Silvestro, and a Baroque church of San Antonio. San Silvestro contains a mural, Tavola San Silvestro e sue storie, painted by the artist Andrea De Litio who is believed to have been born in Abruzzo.
Things started to change with the arrival of the "smooth sea road" in the early 19th century, which prompted the Filiani family to build a summer residence, the Villa Filiani. With the arrival of the Adriatic railway in 1860, this became the headquarters of their agricultural estates and industrial interests. There was much discussion whether the station should be in Atri or in the comune of Mutignano; Giacinto Filiani granted land for the construction of the Atri-Mutignano station and the prosperity of the area was ensured. Filiani built shops at the station approach, and a small community developed, but there was relatively little residential development until after World War I.
In the early 1920s Luigi Filiani decided to develop the area as a beach resort, enhanced by the planting of pine trees. Despite opposition from the then mayor of Mutignano, in May 1923 he received a concession from the Maritime Agency to plant a pine wood that would revert to the State after 25 years. Filiani levelled the ground and planted 2000 umbrella pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
s (Pinus pinea) along the beach. He went on to plant pine trees, holm oak
Holm Oak
Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...
s and laurel
Laurel
-Botany:* Laurel family , a group of flowering plants** Azores laurel ** Bay Laurel , also called True Laurel** California Laurel ** Camphor Laurel...
on the surrounding hills.
Hitherto, the coast between the Filiani house and Torre di Cerrano was variously known as Atri-Mutignano or Villa Filiani. Inspired by the poem La Poggia nel Pineto ("Rain in the Pinewood") by Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
, Filiani changed the name to Pineto in 1925. In 1929 it replaced Mutignano as capoluogo of the comune.