Spiano
Encyclopedia
Spiano is a frazione
(outlying area) of the commune
of Teramo
in the Abruzzo Region
of Italy. It sits about seven miles from Teramo on a hill that overlooks both the Tordino
and the Vomano
valleys.
and Spiano. The ownership and fates of these the castles located in Frondarola and Spiano have been exorably linked over the centuries.
In the year 1804 Spiano, together with Fornarolo (Frondarola
) made up what was then known as a Università. These political entities correspond most closely to what are called Italian communes in today's vocabulary. In 1813, the small università of Spiano was joined together with that of nearby Miano. As its population decreased, the entity later became what today is a "frazione" of the communal capital of Teramo
.
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(outlying area) of the commune
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:...
of Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
in the Abruzzo Region
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...
of Italy. It sits about seven miles from Teramo on a hill that overlooks both the Tordino
Tordino
Tordino is a river flowing in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. In Roman times it was known as "Batinus".The source of the Tordino is located between Mount Gorzano and Pelone. After a course of 58 kilometers, it flows into the Adriatic Sea...
and the Vomano
Vomano
The Vomano is a 76 km Italian river, which runs through Montorio al Vomano and Roseto degli Abruzzi in region of Abruzzo. It rises from Monte San Franco in Gran Sasso and enters the sea at Roseto degli Abruzzi....
valleys.
Historical Origins
The name Spiano may have derived from the fact that the town finds itself at a point from which one can spy (in Italian "spiare") on the valleys which lie below. Others believe that the town takes its name from a location once known as Espano. Records show that in 1026 Guilbert of Teuton left his many holdings to the Bishop of Aprutino (Teramo). At the time these included land found near the city and villages of Penne, Pastori di Colledonico, Rossiano, Espano, Freniano, Colle de' Morelli, Rapina, Banio (today's Spiano to include the area of Santa Maria ad Balneum). In 1470 the city of Teramo acquired the hilltop fortifications of FrondarolaFrondarola
Frondarola is a small town in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy, population about 200. It lies at an altitude of 1502 feet above sea level and is located about 5 miles from Teramo, of which it is a frazione.-History:...
and Spiano. The ownership and fates of these the castles located in Frondarola and Spiano have been exorably linked over the centuries.
In the year 1804 Spiano, together with Fornarolo (Frondarola
Frondarola
Frondarola is a small town in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy, population about 200. It lies at an altitude of 1502 feet above sea level and is located about 5 miles from Teramo, of which it is a frazione.-History:...
) made up what was then known as a Università. These political entities correspond most closely to what are called Italian communes in today's vocabulary. In 1813, the small università of Spiano was joined together with that of nearby Miano. As its population decreased, the entity later became what today is a "frazione" of the communal capital of Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
.