Crecchio, the Byzantine village of Abruzzo

Crecchio, formerly called Ok(r)ikam and later Ocriculum by the Romans, may have been a stronghold of the Frentani or derive from the Latin “monticello” (small hill). Located in Abruzzo between the Maiella mountains and the Adriatic Sea, the village preserves an agricultural landscape of vineyards, olive groves, and orchards, deeply rooted in its history. In 1973, the discovery of a Roman-Byzantine villa brought to light Ostrogothic, Lombard, and Byzantine artifacts, documenting the war between Goths and Byzantines. The ducal castle, with a square structure and four towers, dates back to the 11th century and was rebuilt on a Norman-Swabian fortress; the Olive Tower is the only original one from the 12th century. Among the cultural assets stand out the church of Santa Maria da Piedi, the Baroque church of the Santissimo Salvatore, the 13th-century bridge, Palazzo Monaco, and the Valley of the Mills. The main square, recently redeveloped, offers a panoramic view and hosts events.

What to see in the village of Crecchio

The village, once surrounded by walls, preserves its medieval structure and numerous historic residences, including Palazzo Monaco with the church of Santa Maria da Piedi, built in 1581. The church, now an auditorium, has a bell gable and a sandstone portal from 1584, next to Porta da Piedi, which closed the settlement to the north; to the south stood the now-lost Porta da Capo, beneath the castle walls. The castle houses the Museum of Byzantine and Early Medieval Abruzzo, with artifacts from the 9th century BC to the Early Middle Ages. The Valley and Park of the Mills, along the Arielli River, hosts historic mills restored in the 1990s. The Sanctuary of Santa Elisabetta preserves votive offerings and a wooden statue of the Madonna from the 14th–15th centuries.

Events in the village of Crecchio

“A Dinner with the Byzantines” takes place on the last weekend of July, with music, reenactments, guided tours in costume, dances, and dishes from Byzantine and medieval cuisine, inspired by the artifacts of the castle museum, which testify to exchanges between Abruzzo and the East. The patronal feast of Santa Elisabetta, on the last weekend of August, celebrates the patron saints Rocco, Filomena, and Elisabetta, with live music, band concerts, and food stands. The local agricultural tradition is reflected in the cuisine, with dishes such as pallotte cacio e ove (cheese and egg balls), codfish, calcionetti pastries, and high-quality extra virgin olive oil, while the wineries produce excellent wines such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano, Pecorino, and Cococciola, celebrating Crecchio as a “City of Wine.”

Discover the surroundings of Crecchio

The surroundings of Crecchio offer a varied landscape that combines hills, vineyards, olive groves, and panoramic views of the Maiella mountains and the Adriatic coast. Along the Arielli River, the Valley and Park of the Mills preserves restored historic mills, bearing witness to the area’s ancient rural economy. The Sanctuary of Santa Elisabetta, with votive offerings and wooden statues from the 14th–15th centuries, is a destination for pilgrimages and cultural visits. Nearby, other medieval villages and food-and-wine itineraries can be discovered, among oil mills and wineries producing extra virgin olive oil and fine wines such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano, Pecorino, and Cococciola. Events such as “A Dinner with the Byzantines” and the patronal feasts allow visitors to experience local traditions, music, and flavors, immersing themselves in the history and culture of the region.

Cover photo credits: D-VISIONS