A journey through history and culture

Starting from Silvi, you can follow a fascinating religious itinerary that crosses the province of Teramo and touches the cities of Atri, Teramo and Campli.

The first stop is Atri, a ducal city that extends over three hills: the Maralto hill, the Muralto hill and the middle hill. The hilly area surrounding the town is characterized by particular forms of soil erosion which take the name of "Calanchi". In the historic center you can admire various monuments and architectural works, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta with its fifteenth-century frescoes by Andrea De Litio, the Church of Santa Reparata, the Church of Sant'Agostino, the Church of San Nicola with the fresco of the Madonna of Loreto, the Church of Santo Spirito (Sanctuary of Santa Rita) and the Convent of Santa Chiara. Also not to be missed are the Villa Comunale, the ancient cisterns in the basement of the Palazzo Ducale and the elegant Municipal Theatre, inaugurated in 1881.

After the visit to Atri, we continue along the provincial roads to admire the panoramas up to Teramo, a city of about 60,000 inhabitants which stands on a clayey-limestone spur between the Tordino and Vezzola rivers. Here you can visit numerous churches and historic buildings, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Berardo with the splendid frontal by Nicola da Guardagrele, the Church of Sant'Anna, the Church of Sant'Antonio (San Francesco) with eighteenth-century works by Vincenzo Baldati, the small church of Santa Caterina (open only on certain days of the year) and the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie with a wooden statue of the Virgin and Child by Silvestro de L'Aquila.

Finally, we arrive in Campli, an ancient village linked to the Farnese family which houses the Cathedral of Santa Maria di Platea, the National Archaeological Museum, the Farnese Palace and the famous Scala Santa, made up of 28 olive wood steps which the faithful they walk on their knees to obtain plenary forgiveness of their faults. In Campli, moreover, you can taste the delicious porchetta to which a historic festival is dedicated every year, not to be missed.