Vacri: Sanctuary, Churches and Rural Culture

Vacri among its sanctuary, churches and rural culture

Vacri combines archaeological traces, historic churches and religious traditions with a local history that is visible in Porcareccia just as it is in the historic centre. If you are looking for an Italian destination with a cultural focus, you will find a range of different testimonies here: an ancient Italic sanctuary, church architecture, rural piety and the preservation of regional language.

Archaeological traces in Porcareccia

The Italic Temple is located in C.da Porcareccia in Vacri. Archaeological remains and structures dating from the 2nd to 3rd century BC were found there; they formed part of the architectural furnishings of an Italic sanctuary. Finds in Porcareccia also point to use in the 5th to 6th century AD. They include a bronze statuette of Hercules attacking. A group of bronze statues of Hercules from the Italic temple in Porcareccia was donated to the Museum of the City of Chieti.

San Biagio and Santa Chiara in the town centre

The first reliable evidence of the church of San Biagio in Vacri dates from 1308. Construction of the present church began on 22 January 1762 with the laying of the foundation stone and was completed 53 years later, in March 1815. The Chiesa di San Biagio is one of the most important places of worship in the historic centre of Vacri. Santa Chiara is also of interest for orientation within the town: it is considered Vacri’s most representative Baroque building. Its interior is richly and scenographically designed and features stucco and valuable decorative elements. From the town hall, Santa Chiara can be reached on foot in 5 to 10 minutes via paths through the historic centre.

Religious landscape and historic routes

San Vincenzo Ferreri is a rural church in the district of the same name and bears witness to the popular piety associated with Vacri’s rural surroundings. The building has a simple structure, a rendered façade with a pediment profile and a close relationship with the surrounding agricultural landscape. San Vincenzo is considered a tratturale church, meaning a rural or pastoral church. Such churches provided spiritual care as well as accommodation for animals and shepherds. The historic L’Aquila–Foggia sheep track also passed through the territory of the municipality of Vacri. In the surrounding region, the pilgrimage to Madonna delle Grazie leads to Francavilla al Mare; the inhabitants of Vacri have observed it on the second Sunday in May for almost four centuries.

Language as part of cultural life

The Premio Città di Vacri adds another cultural accent. Its aim is to preserve the Abruzzese dialect. Alongside the buildings and religious customs, linguistic traditions therefore also form part of the character of the town.

For further research, the following destinations are also available: Cupello, Lama Dei Peligni, Cerreto, Chieti, Marina Di Vasto, Orsogna, Piane d'Archi-Quadroni, Tornareccio.

To the overarching travel overview: Chieti.