Chieti is an Italian town in the Abruzzo region. It is located on a hill about 18 kilometers inland from the coastal town of Pescara and is the capital of the eponymous province. highlights are the Roman temples and the Cathedral.
Chieti travel guide
Useful information
The Chieti tourist office is located in the Via Spaventa 29 (tel. +39 0871 63640). Town hall: Corso Marrucino, 81 66100 Chieti .
Railway station: The city has its own railway station on the Rome-Pescara line.
Nearest airport: Pescara.
Tourist attractions
Multiple monuments dating back to Roman times remain visible in Chieti. These include three temples, a cistern, an amphitheater and a spa complex.
The San Giustino Cathedral is the most important church of Chieti. In the course of the centuries, it has often been reconstructed.
Other interesting sights are the 13th century San Francesco Church and the 17th century San Domenico and Santa Chiara churches.
Museums
The Museo Archeologio Nazionale is located in the Villa Comunale park. The collection includes mostly archaeological finds from the area, including a huge marble statue of Hercules and the “Warrior of Capestrano” from the 6th century.
The Complesso Archeologico la Civitella is a museum built around the ruins of a Roman amphitheater and displays weapons and utensils dating back to the Iron Age.
A brief history of Chieti
In several spots on the territory of the city, archaeological finds have brought to light object dating back to the Paleolithic period.
Before the Romans took over, the area was inhabited by a tribe called the Marrucini. The name of the settlement was Teate.
Toward the end of the 4th century BC, the Marrucini lost a war against the Romans. From then on, they gradually became less independent, in the 1st century BC to become completely incorporated.
The settlement flourished after the construction of the Via Valeria consular road around 200 BC.
After the fall of the empire, the town was often subject to plunder.
In the early Middle Ages, Chieti was one of the four counties into which Abruzzo was divided.
In the 13th century, under the House of Anjou, the city became the capital of an area then called Abruzzo Citra, which more or less comprises the current province of Chieti.
In the 15th century, L’Aquila became more powerful, which led to the decline in importance. Chieti even became a feud for a brief period, in 1646.
How to get to Chieti by car
Pescara is located just off the E80 highway between Rome and Pescara.