Cellino Attanasio: Hills, History and Regional Cuisine

Hillside location with views as far as the coast

Cellino Attanasio lies in the hills of the Province of Teramo and offers views extending to the coast. For planning your trip, Cellino Attanasio is particularly interesting if you want to combine historic townscapes, distinctive landscapes and local traditions.

Calanchi and nature along the Piomba

In the eastern part of the municipality of Cellino Attanasio, on the border with the municipality of Atri, are characteristic clay slopes known as calanchi. This landscape is one of the defining features associated with the town. The springs and upper reaches of the Piomba in Cellino Attanasio are also of local botanical and faunal interest. Thus, the municipality brings together open hilly landscapes, the bright clay slopes of the calanchi and a river area of interest for plant and animal life.

Medieval townscape and churches

Cellino Attanasio preserves its medieval town plan and parts of its town walls, commissioned by the Acquaviva family in the 15th century. These historic traces shape the structure of the town and give a visit a clear connection to its historical era. The Chiesa di Santa Maria La Nova also contains a Romanesque building from the 14th century. The tomb of the nobleman Giovanni Battista Acquaviva is located in the same church.

The town's architectural history also includes the former Chiesa di Santo Spirito, which was built in the 18th century. Today, the building is used as a theater and multifunctional event venue. In this way, the site combines historic architecture with a contemporary cultural function, while Santa Maria La Nova above all makes the Romanesque and aristocratic aspects of the town's history visible.

Festivals, pasta and wine tradition

The events calendar has its own highlights: the Fiera Sant'Atanasio is held on May 2, and every July Cellino Attanasio hosts the Sagra dei cingoli cellinesi. Cingoli cellinesi are a special fresh pasta made from potatoes, flour and water. At the Sagra, they are served with duck sauce. Anyone who does not want to view local cuisine separately from the occasions associated with it will find a culinary focus here that is directly connected with Cellino Attanasio.

Montonico is also part of the region's identity. It is an indigenous white wine grape variety from the areas of Bisenti, Cermignano and Cellino Attanasio, and was highly valued until the 1930s. Together with cingoli cellinesi, it creates a culinary picture that encompasses both a distinctive pasta specialty and a historically significant grape variety.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

Routes by car, on foot and by bicycle are available for reaching Cellino Attanasio. These three options offer different approaches to planning your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Cellino Attanasio, you can base your choice on your interests: the medieval townscape and churches, the calanchi and the Piomba, or festivals and regional cuisine.

More destinations for planning your trip: Castelli, Canzano, Penna Alta, Bellante, Silvi Paese, Teramo, Bisenti, Morro D'oro

To the higher-level travel overview: Teramo.