Tavolero, (also referred to as Tavolier, Tivolieri, or in ancient Roman times as ''Tebularium'') is a "

frazione A ''frazione'' (: ''frazioni'') is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' ('municipality') in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidat ...

" (i.e., suburb) of the Communal town of

Rocca Santa Maria Rocca Santa Maria is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. The municipal seat is in the ''frazione A ''frazione'' (: ''frazioni'') is a type of ...

in the

Province of Teramo The province of Teramo (; Neapolitan language, Abruzzese: ') is a provinces of Italy, 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 ...

. It is located in the area known as

Monti della Laga Monti della Laga is a mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form ...

and sits within the

Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park in central Italy. Established in 1991, it covers an area of , mostly within the provinces of Teramo, L'Aquila, and Pescara in Abruzzo, with small areas in the provinces of Rieti ...

. The village can be found at an elevation about 2709 feet on a rocky piece of land that juts out over and dominates the nearby

Tordino The Tordino is a river flowing in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. In Roman times it may have been known as "Batinus". The source of the Tordino is located between Monte Gorzano and Pelone, in the Monti della Laga ...

River. In the year 2007 Tavolero is but an uninhabited ghosttown. Most of the villas in the village date back to the 18th century. One in particular is of major historical significance and was likely constructed in the 15th century. It has an imposing chimney and fireplace and has now been restored for use as a summer vacation home.

The San Flaviano Church

This church is of great historical significance. It likely dates back to the last third of the 13th century and sits alone several hundred meters above the small village below. This placement of the village church is characteristic of other nearby small villages in the area. San Flaviano is built on the foundation of preexisting structure whose origins likely date back to end of the 11th century. Evidence of this can be seen via several inscribed marking stones embedded in the church's front wall and porticoes. Mention is made of San Flaviano in a document dated 1324 known as the ''Rationes decimarum''. It lists the church as falling within the parish of

which itself formed part of the Diocese of Teramo. Architectural aspects of the church are characteristic of those features frequently employed by the Order of the Cistercians. The church bears a strong resemblance to another of this order's churches, Santa Maria ad Criptas, located in the

Pescara Province The province of Pescara (; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pescara, which has a population of 119,483 inhabitants. As of 2017, it has a total population of 319,936 inhabitants over an area o ...

town of Fossa and built in the late 13th century. Together they serve as important monuments to the presence of the Cistercians in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. The church of San Flaviano bears a more simplistic wooden beamed roof rather than a more ornate and costly volt. This was likely done in to keep the costs of the church within reason. In medieval times the church was expected to turn over a tenth (la ''decima'') of its revenue to the parish each year.

The "Borghi" (Burgs) Projects

Tavolero, along with the nearby villages of Martese and Serra, has been selected by the

as a site for development as a major tourist center. Emphasis will be placed on restoring the village in a manner that is both authentic and environmentally sound. {{authority control Frazioni of the Province of Teramo