Castelsaraceno.
This village, with a mediaeval structure, is surrounded
by thick woods and by a little mountain called ‘Castel
Veglia’. Its origins are uncertain, though it
is thought to have been built at the beginning of
the year 1000, under the Saracen domination. A different
hypothesis considers that the people living in Planula,
in order to defend themselves from the assaults of
Saracens, built up a fortress where Castelsaraceno
is now. Later this centre belonged to several local
barons and feudal lords.
In the village there are the Church of Santa Maria
degli Angeli, XVI century, and the Church of Santo
Spirito, built between the XVI and the XVII centuries.
The ‘Palazzo Baronale’ (XV century) is
very interesting.
This village has the ancient tradition of the ‘Rito
dell’antenna’, held in June: a well polished
beech log, 20 metres long, is attached to the top
of a fir and then raised up in the middle of the square.
