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AN OVERVIEW OF PRATOLA'S HISTORY Corriere Peligno/Gente Italica copyright© by Sestino Casasanta Pratola Peligna, at the present time has a population of around 9,000, and is situated on the slopes of a pleasant hill, at the centre of the Peligna Valley. The Sagittario, Rio and Vella rivers flow through her territory; The distance between Pratola-L'Aquila is 59 kms and Pratola-Pescara is 60 kms. It's easily reached either by car (through the Motorway #25 Rome-Pratola-Pescara, State Road #17 and State Road #5 dir.), or by train (there are two rail stations that are located within her domain, i.e., one in the Pescara-Roma line, and the other in the Sulmona-L'Aquila line). Pratola Peligna bounds with Raiano and Corfinio at the north, Roccacasale at the east, Sulmona at the south, and to west there is Prezza. The climate of Pratola Peligna is one of the warmest in the province of L'Aquila because even if she is rich with water, the valley is protected by the mountain range. It is very hot and humid in the summer, cold in the wintertime. It is not possible to recollect the town's many memorable dates in this short résumé. Therefore, for our devote readers we promise to reminisce more, in the near future. The history of Pratola, with the addition of the word Peligna in 1863, is identified with the territory of the Peligni Nation. Since ancient times it was the land of an illustrious italic population. The name of Pratola, initially appears written in a deed of the Chronicon Vulturnense just prior the year 1000 A.D., stated that Alberico of Transarico of Valva had received a parcel of land in Pratulae for the sum of 300 cents, from the Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Vincent at Vulturne. The history of Pratola is tied, without doubt, to the Celestine Monks and their Morronese Abbey. Soon after the pontifical coronation on the 20 of September 1294 of Frà Peter of Morrone; who took the name of Celestine V, Charles II of Anjou donated the Castrum of Pratulae to the Celestines. This donation was re-confirmed more than once by Charles II of Anjou's successors and the servitudes (servaggio) under the Celestines that lasted until February 13 1807. When by a decree of Napoleon I, who had declared abolishment of all the religious Orders, that included the Celestines of the Holy Spirit from the Morronese Abbey. The revival of the Bourbon's government had occurred with the Restoration, and the initial hopes for improvement had soon disappeared. The discontent of the liberals and the misery of the populace, caused revolts which were always followed by brutal retaliations. Not even the concession of the new Constitution, proclaimed on January 29 1848, by Francis II, was enough to calm down the dissatisfactions of the people, especially with the farmers (contadini), who demanded an Agricultural Law in their favour. In Pratola such dissatisfactions lead to a violent uprising, that lasted for two long days, and resulted with injuries and deaths (May 7 and 8, 1848). "The population, with fury, went to the guard's headquarter, where they tried to take possession of the arms before those arms were in the hands of the National Guards, who had already started to gather at the site. Old carbines, hoes, shovels, digging spades, stones were the arms used by of the contenders that battled with furious rage. At the end, the farmers were the victors, they took possession of the arms and lacerated the Flag at the shouts of "Viva il Re, down with the Constitution". During those days, the (contadini Pratolani) farmers, didn't recognize any government; local or national, but only the one they had elected". At this time, the nationalistic feelings started to flare up all over Italy. A group of Pratolani answered to the call of Giuseppe Garibaldi and under the leadership of captain Onia Ortensi, more than thirty volunteers, including some citizens from the neighbouring towns, took part in the takeover of Monterotondo and Mentana. At this point, by skipping some obscure years, this story resume at the period when the fascist regime had already spread and consolidated all over Italy. The punitive expeditions of Mussolini's black shirts followed one another at very short intervals. The citizens who opposed the regime paid for their ideology with persecutions, exile, and many even lost their own lives. A valid contribution, to the liberal-socialist Piero Gobetti, to organize the antifascist movement in Southern Italy, came from one of Pratola's lawyers Rocco Santacroce, the only "abruzzese" to sign the Appeal to the Meridional People. This appeal was published on December 2, 1924, by the weekly "Rivoluzione Liberale". Rocco Santacroce, became a victim of the fascist's persecution for his adverse political beliefs. On April 17, 1934, history marks a bloody revolution in Pratola. Again the farmers (contadini) were the main protagonists, exasperated by the many adversities (a terrible disease, called the grape philloxera, had forced to cut off vineyards and fruit trees right close to the roots) and had been unhappy to pay new taxes. This had produced enough reason to ignite the fuse for the revolution. During this struggle, four persons were killed, many injured, and many others were arrested and condemned to various punishments. Pratola Peligna's Annual Emigration Convention, promoted by a local newspaper, the municipal administration, and sponsored by the Abruzzo Region and the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, is highly accredited in Italy. Other annual events are: the Agriculture & Artisan Fair, the feast of the Madonna della Libera which attracts a large crowd from every part of Abruzzo and Central Italy. Every Friday, the characteristic and important weekly outdoor market occurs in the historic centre. |
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