Lanciano

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Lanciano-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Lanciano
name = Lanciano
region = Abruzzo
province = Chieti (CH)
elevation_m = 265
area_total_km2 = 66
population_as_of = December 31, 2004
population_total = 36228
population_density_km2 = 542
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|14|N|14|23|E
frazioni = see list
telephone = 0872
postalcode = 66034
gentilic = Lancianesi
saint = Madonna del Ponte
day = September 16
mayor = Filippo Paolini (since May 25, 2003)
website = [http://www.comune.lanciano.chieti.it www.comune.lanciano.chieti.it] | mapx=42.237
mapy=14.38

Lanciano is a town and commune in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. It has 35,713 inhabitants.

The city is also known for the first recorded alleged Catholic Eucharistic Miracle.

History

The ancient Roman name of Lanciano was "Anxanum", a city of the Frentani Italic tribe. The city would have been founded in 1181 BC by Solimus, a Troyan refugee arrived in Italy along with Aeneas. Legends apart, archaeological findings have shown that the area was settled from the 5th millennium BC.

Under the Frentani it was probably under the influence of Greater Greece. After the end of the Samnite Wars, which saw the Frentani allied with the Romans, Lancianum obtained the status of "municipium". It was probably a flourishing commercial site, across an ancient and important trade route connecting Pescara to Apulia.

According to tradition, Lanciano is also the birthplace of Longinus the Roman centurion who thrust his spear into Jesus' side during the Crucifixion: "Lanciano" in Italian means "of the Spear"

During fall of the Western Roman Empire, Lanciano was sacked by the Goths, and was destroyed during the Lombard invasion (c. 571 AD). A new settlement was then created around a castle built by the new rulers. In 610, however, it was conquered by the Byzantines, who annexed it to the Duchy of "Teate" (Chieti) and allowed the trades to restart. In the late 8th century Lanciano was conquered by the Franks, who included it in the Duchy of Spoleto.

In 1060 the Normans made it a centre of the unified Kingdom of Sicily. Lanciano flourished again and in 1340 it was the largest city in Abruzzo with 6,500 inhabitants, renowned industries (ceramics, wool, silk, goldworks, ironworks), receiving important privileges by both Frederick II and his son Manfred, with a substantial administrative autonomy. Charles I, King of Sicily, assigned the revenues of the city's port to the Vatican Basilica. Later it was frequently at war with nearby Ortona.

It was here that Pope Gregory XII, fleeing from Cividale, landed on Neapolitan territory (1409), and went thence to Gaeta. After the end of the Italian Wars, the new Spanish rule and the shift of commerce due to the discovery of America, impoverished Lanciano, which, in 1640, became a baronial possession.

Later, the city took the part of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799 and rose against the Bourbon kings in 1848, 1849 and 1853. In 1860 it voted for annexation to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

During World War II it was an active center of the Resistance against the German occupation. In 1952 it was awarded the Gold Medal to Military Valour by President Luigi Einaudi.

Main sights

*Cathedral of "Santa Maria del Ponte" ("St. Mary of the Bridge"), so called because it is built on bridgework along a precipice: is the work of Michitelli (1619) and has some paintings by Pozzulaniello (Giacinto Diana). It houses also an 8th century Byzantine statue portraying the Madonna, probably brought here during the iconoclast controversy.
*"Santa Maria Maggiore", one of the most important architectural sites in Abruzzo. Built in 1227 according to Bourgogne-Cistercian lines, it was updated in 1540 in Baroque style, with the addition of two aisles and stucco decorations (recently stripped off). The main gate is from 1317.
*"San Francesco" (1258), built over a pre-existing 7th century church. The high altar houses the relics of the Eucharistic Miracle.
*"Sant'Agostino" (1270). The façade has maintained the original rose window and the gate, while the single nave interior is a Baroque restoration.
*"Torri Montanare", a relic of the ancient walls (11th century). They consist in two massive towers, the most recent dating to the 15th century, offering a panoramic view of the area.
*"Porta San Biagio" (11th century), the only one gate remaining of the nine once existing.

Frazioni

Apart from the city of Lanciano, the "comune" of the same name contains 33 "contrade". The population of the "contrade" has ben estimated (as of 2005) at 12,682.

They are:Camicie, Colle Campitelli, Colle Pizzuto, Costa di Chieti, Follani, Fontanelle, Gaeta, Iconicella, Madonna del Carmine, Marcianese, Nasuti, re di Coppe, Rizzacorno, Sabbioni, San Iorio, Santa Croce, Santa Giusta, Santa Liberata, Santa Maria dei Mesi, Sant'Amato, Santa Nicolina, Sant'Egidio, Sant'Onofrio, Serre, Serroni, Spaccarelli, Torremarino, Torre Sansone, Villa Andreoli, Villa Carminello, Villa Elce, Villa Martelli, Villa Pasquini, Villa Stanazzo.

Twinnings

*flagicon|Canada Vaughan, Canada