Giulianova ( Giuliese: ' ) is a coastal town and ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' in the

province of Teramo The Province of Teramo ( it, provincia di Teramo; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of , a population of 313,029 (2012), and is subdivided into 47 comunes ( ...

, Abruzzo region, Italy. The ''comune'' also has city ( it, città) status, thus also known as Città di Giulianova.

Geography

The town lies in the north of the

Abruzzo , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1 ...

region, between the

Salinello The Salinello ( la, Zerninus) is a river in Italy. It is located in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. The source of the river is in the Monti della Laga range southwest of Montagna dei Fiori. The river flows eastwar ...

and the Tordino rivers. Giulianova is split between the ''Paese'', the historic town up in the hills, and the ''lido'', the more recent development down by the beach. Tourism plays a big part in the town's economy. The town, characterized by several beaches, is a summer retreat for people from large cities like

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...

, as well as

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

tourists.

History

In pre-Roman times, the Praetutii tribe had a settlement there. In 3rd century BCE Romans established a colony called

Castrum Novum In the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Latin word ''castrum'', plural ''castra'', was a military-related term. In Latin usage, the singular form ''castrum'' meant 'fort', while the plural form ''castra'' meant 'camp'. The singular a ...

in the vicinity of Giulianova. In the Middle Ages, the old Castrum Novum was called ''Castrum divi Flaviani'', and remained an important trade and travel hub, until it was destroyed in 1460, during the Tordino Battle. The local baron

Giulio Antonio Acquaviva Giulio Antonio Acquaviva (c. 1425 – February 7, 1481) was an Italian nobleman and condottiere. He was 7th Duke of Atri and 1st of Teramo, Count of Conversano and San Flaviano and Lord of Padula and Roseto. Life Giulio Antonio Acquaviva was bo ...

, founded, in 1471, a new city up on the hill, not far from the older one, calling its Giulia. It was an interesting example of renaissance ideal city, applying the theory of the most important architects of the time, as Leon Battista Alberti and

Francesco Di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms ...

, with the cultural environment of whom, he was in contact.

Main sights

* Church of ''Santa Maria a Mare'', belonging to the former city of San Flaviano. Founded before the 11th century, it is a brickwork building with a sail-like bell tower. The portal is from the late 13th century, and has a relief with "Madonna with Child and Animals", while two lions guard the sides, one holding a book and the other fighting with a snake. Under the arch are 18 stone tiles depicting enigmatic figures, described by some a representation of the Zodiac and the seasons * The octagonal Cathedral of ''San Flaviano'', built from 1472. The dome was originally covered by blue majolica. It houses a marble sculpture of "Madonna with Child" by

Venanzo Crocetti Venanzo Crocetti (1913–2003) was an Italian sculptor. He was born in Giulianova, Abruzzo. In 1938 Venanzo Crocetti received the Grand Prize in the 19th Venice Biennale. "The Door of the Sacraments" of the St. Peter's Basilica Crocetti finished ...

Sanctuary Madonna of the Splendor The Sanctuary Madonna of the Splendor is a shrine in Giulianova, Province of Teramo, central Italy. Next to the shrine stand a convent, a miraculous spring water fountain, and a museum. The sanctuary is served by Capuchin fathers. Structure ...

. In the sacristy is the 16th century ''Pala dello Splendore'', an altarpiece by Paolo Veronese * Ducal Palace *''Torre del Salinello'', a watch tower built in the 16th century to guard from Turk pirates.

People

* Gabriele Tarquini (born 1962), racing driver *

Gaetano Braga Gaetano Braga (June 9, 1829 – November 21, 1907) was an Italian composer and cellist. He was born in Giulianova in Abruzzi and died in Milan. Braga's works include compositions for the cello (two concertos, a quintet, a quartet, works f ...

(1829–1907), cellist and composer * Domenico "Dom" Serafini (born 1949), journalist *

(1913–2003), sculptor *

Egidio De Maulo Egidio De Maulo (4 September 1840 – 14 November 1922) was an Italian painter mainly of landscapes and still lifes. Biography Born in Giulianova, Italy, a young Egidio moved to Naples where he successfully painted landscapes and still lifes am ...

Born in Giulianova, November 4, 1840 – Rome 1922 ( Painter ) *

Lorenzo Piani Lorenzo Piattoni (27 September 1955 – 14 August 2016), known professionally as Lorenzo Piani, was an Italian singer and songwriter. Biography After studying classical piano at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, he released a single. As a musi ...

(1955-2016), singer and songwriter

Sports

The main football team of the town was

Giulianova Calcio Giulianova Calcio S.r.l. was an Italian association football club based in Giulianova, Abruzzo. The team failed to renew its license for professional football in 2012. After 4 years' dormancy, the new owner of the club applied to play in 2016� ...

which participated in professional leagues, namely Serie C (and its divisions). It was replaced by A.S.D. Città di Giulianova 1924 in 2012 and then

Real Giulianova Real Giulianova S.s.d. a r.l. is an Italian football club based in Giulianova, in the Province of Teramo, Abruzzo region. Real Giulianova is a phoenix club of Giulianova and Città di Giulianova, after Real Giulianova was relocated and renamed ...

in 2016.

References

External links

*
Official tourist websitePhotoblog about life in the harbour of Giulianova
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Abruzzo Populated places established in the 1470s