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Visit Atri

Atri is a medium sized hill-town in the Abruzzi region of central Italy. The ancient Duchy of the Acquaviva from the end of the 14th to the second half of the 18th century, Atri preserves some important signs of its history.

One of several pretty hill villages in the region, Atri is particularly noteworthy for its 13th century cathedral. The cathedral stands on the same location as earlier Roman baths, and remarkably you can still see parts of the original mosaics from the baths in the cathedral floor (via a glass panel that has been installed for the purpose).

In the city centre is the Palazzo dei Duchi d'acquaviva, built in the XIV century on the site of a Roman cistern then fully renovated in the 16th century. Today a few things remain of the past, including some frescoes. Currently the building is home to the Town Hall and the didactic Museum of Medieval and Renaissance musical instruments.

Among the religious monuments be sure to visit Atri cathedral. Dedicated to “Santa Maria Assunta”, the cathedral has a facade of impressive simplicity and a cycle of frescoes by Andrea de Litio (1420-1495), a painter of the 15th century. There are numerous frescoes by Andrea de Litio (about 40) - among the most charming are "The Coronation of Mary" and "The Massacre of the Innocents" (in the apse) but many of the others are also noteworthy.

Connected to the cathedral are the medieval cloister and the Roman cistern. Visit also the Baroque style Church of St Reparata (the patron saint of the city), designed by Giovan Battista Gianni in 1741. On the front there is a 14th century statue of the saint while inside is a wooden canopy, the work of local artist Carlo Riccioni, who made it between 1677 and 1690.

Also to see in Atri among the places of worship is the Church of St. Francis, built around 1230 and restored in 1716 by Fontana di Penne. It is accessed by climbing a Baroque style staircase. The interior has a Latin cross form with eight side chapels decorated with stucco, works of the 18th century by the Neapolitan school. The Church of St. Augustine, built in the 14th century, has a Renaissance-Gothic portal, the work of master Matteo da Napoli and dating from around 1420. Above the capitals there are two statues, S. Saint Catherine and a Saint Monk, while above there is the Eternal Father and S. Augustine. The interior has a nave and a fresco, the “Madonna delle Grazie”, by Andrea de Litio.

Museums in Atri

There are also many museums in Atri which preserve the city's history. The Capitular Museum is divided into several sections, with an area devoted to painting and including many substantial works. In the fourth room there are two paintings representing the "Nativity" and the "Flagellation", attributed to Pedro de Aponte, a painter of Zaragoza. Also, note in particular one depicting the “Madonna and Child”, attributed to Luca della Robbia (1400-1481). In the fifth room highlights include "Announcing an Angel" and the “Virgin of the Annunciation”, two oil paintings by a Neapolitan painter. On the right, there are some carved wooden statues of the sixteenth century, depicting SS. Peter and Paul of the late sixteenth century.

Also really impressive is the collection of the Ethnographic Museum, which holds over two thousand works and shows evidences of the industrial and agro-pastoral culture. Remarkable is also the Archaeological Museum, which contains numerous evidences of Abruzzo in prehistoric times. The collection presents various aspects of agriculture, such as viticulture and some agricultural tools such as wagons, ploughs, harrows, yokes, some miscellaneous equipment for land preparation, and an oak tool used for oil production. No less important is the collection related to industrial archaeology, wheer you can see various typical engines from the earliest forms of industrialization - and one of the first engines for the local production of liquorice.

Other Atri highlights

Among other important buildings visit the Municipal Theater, a building known for its excellent acoustic qualities, reminiscent on the outside of “La Scala” in Milan and the “Teatro San Carlo” in Naples. After a relaxing walk in the space of the Roman Theatre and City Park, with a “Belvedere” of many statues of modern art, we recommend that you get acquainted with the illustrious tradition of local cuisine. Atri is, in fact, famous for working with liquorice, a handicraft dating back to Medieval times. A traditional recipe is called "Pan Ducale", a sort of almond pizza, very much appreciated, it is said, by the Dukes of Acquaviva. Another 'must try' is the “Pecorino” [“sheep’s milk cheese”] of Atri, a typical product of the pastoral tradition of the area with a slightly spicy taste.

See also history of Atri.