The origins of the name of this town in the province of L'Aquila are uncertain, in fact, some historians believe that it derives from "pectorale" (for the shape of the housing area, similar to a chest armor piece), while others are sure that the town was named after an ancient Roman patrician landlord (Pictorius), and finally, for others from the rocky nature of the place.
Mentioned for the first time in 1093, the town developed in the Lombard Ages around a castle, and with the advent of Normans it was already an established economic reality. With the Angevin, the feud was granted to Angoult of Amiel, Lord of Courbain. In 1310 it was ceded to the Cantelmo, that ruled until 1750. These were replaced by the Montemiletto until the abolition of feudal rights.
Not to miss:
- the Castle of the Cantelmo, which was originally built in the Lombard period and that encouraged the phenomenon of building fortified towns between the X and XI century. It has been recently restored and now is the seat of a museum and an exhibition hall;
- the Church of San Dionisio, cited in 1183. To its right stands a beautiful portal transferred here from the nearby Carmelite convent in 1842;
- the Church of San Rocco, a votive building erected by the inhabitants after the plague of 1656;
- the Church of Our Lady of the Libera, built in 1680 by the family Vittori of Aquila;
- the Church of St. Nicholas, one of the oldest in the country, already mentioned in 1112;
- the Church of St. John, mentioned in 1183;
- the Church of St. Anthony;
- the ancient gates to the town (Porta San Nicola, Porta del Mulino (mill), Porta San Marco, Porta Cencio, Porto Santa Margherita);
- Palazzo Ducale, the main residence of the Cantelmo, which consists of three rectangular buildings joined in a "U" shape and face on to the Valley of Gizio;
- the Castaldini, originally the residence of the Castaldo Family, financial administrators of the Lords of Cantelmo ;
- the Inn, located not far from the castle, a shelter for travelers along the ancient road, built at the times of Napoleon.