Page 21 - Italian-American Herald - March 2023

ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
MARCH2023 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 21
Barbara Ann Zippi-Och, Executive Producer Text/Cell/WhatsAp 610 566 4883 CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com
! ! Sharing * Heritage * Culture * Traditions * Foods * Connecting * Family * Friends * People * Firms * Non Profits !
Abruzzo ~ From Saints to Shopping ~ A Hidden Gem Among The Sea & Mountains
Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia
I first heard about the Shrine of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Province of Teramo from my grand- mother’s niece, Antonietta Ciantra Nobilio, living in Loreto Aprutino while staying with her during a visit in 2022.
Days later, when visiting an American friend, Sonia Ceritano, relocating to Castel Castagna, the mountaintop village of her ancestors, she wanted to show me “the church bells” that Jackie Kennedy helped sponsor for restoration at the ‘local’ church where her father took her for Sunday picnic outings. By coincidence, nestled among the hills of the Gran Sasso mountain range, we came to visit The Sanctuary of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.
It is one of three sacred sites along the Adriatic Sea: “Loreto Home of The Black Madonna” featured in the Ciao Bella Living Italian Style November 2022 issue at www.ItalianAmericanHerald.com and Padre Pio’s San Giovanni Rotondo. An average of 2 million visitors per year visit St. Gabriel and it’s one of the15 most visited sanctuaries in the world.
Born to a professional family as Francesco Possenti and called a ladies man in his youth, he gave up ambitions of a secular career to enter the Passionist congre- gation. Baptized at the Font of St. Francis in Assisi, his life in the monastery was not extra-ordinary, yet he followed the rule of the congregation perfectly and was known for his great devotion to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary and his cheer- ful demeanor and spirit of prayer. He developed tuber-culosis after just four short years of religious life, and died at the age of 24 in 1862, beatified by Pope Pius X in 1908 and due to WW 1 was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 who declared him the patron of youth, students and those studying for the priesthood. In 1959, Pope John XXIII named him the patron of the Abruzzi region, where he spent the last two years of his life.
For the first time, Sonia and I both explored the sites of the old and new church in February of 2022, unencumbered by thousands of Pilgrims, and discovered room after room of ‘Walls of Miracles’ in testament to St. Gabriel. A coincidence? After that visit, Sonia founded www.AbruzzoSisterTours.com and I accepted a position as Associate Publisher of this newspaper.
Rightfully so, most tourists to Italy visit Rome, Florence (Tuscany), Venice, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, The Amalfi Coast and other major cities. All have their unique attractions and charms dating back thousands of years.
However, if you want to experience day to day life in Italy, a visit to the medieval hilltop villages of Abruzzo along the Adriatic Coast and among the Gran Sasso mountains should be on your bucket list. Abruzzo is home base for many Italians and the region where many Italian American ancestors have their roots. Imagining Italy the size of Florida, many Italians from major cities have summer
homes along this beautiful coastline and hilltop villages and visit through the year.
L’Aquila, the Capital of Abruzzo, known for the recent (2009) earthquake, was devastated as were many of the region’s villages. 13 years later, with a town full of scaffolding (IAH February 2022), it
is once again emerging as a popular destination full of charm with shops and restaurants. In just a year, there are still signs of reconstruction to be done but the popular village is once again bustling with activity and a popular destination
Shrine of St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows Province of Teramo
The Famous “Jackie Kennedy” Bell Tower at St. Gabriel
Arrosticini - An Abruzzo Specialty made with Sheep’s meat
to shop and ski.
Rita & Simona Nobilio Sale Shopping at the Outlets in Abruzzo
Major renovations with some scaffolding still lining the streets of L’Aquila
Abruzzo roads are marked very well for your driving adventures
Walls & Walls & Walls of Miracles
Shopping in Abruzzo is aimed at Italians, not the tourist trade, so your dollar, or euro, go much further. Daily Markets: Once a week in the villages, merchants sell their wares along the streets of the town. Monday’s Pescara, Thursday’s Loreto Aprutino, Saturday’s Penne. Teramo and others have designated days too. From household items to farmer’s produce and fresh porchetta, cheese and fish, the day is filled with meeting up with friends in “La Piazza”, the Square, and looking through fashion merchant racks for men and women ranging between $5 and $20 euros with “made in Italy” labels.
In addition to the street markets, still a regular feature throughout the mountain villages, malls have popped up in Abruzzo with coin operated ‘rides for children’, ‘fortune features’ for shoppers and Italian designer fashions.
Like in America, January and February feature sales, 50%, 70% and 90% off. Visiting the new Città Sant’Angelo Outlet Village, filled with stores for clothing and accessories, beauty and fitness, sportswear, footwear, bags and intimate apparell, designer names include Armani, Carpisa, Primadonna, Puma, Versace, Mario Valentino, DeVecchi, Dekker, Camomilla and more. It’s like being a ‘child in a candy store’. With airline tickets at their lowest this time of year, and mild winter weather averaging between 40 to 55 degrees, come with empty luggage or buy a second suitcase at the local discount store.
Accommodations and foods are reasonably priced as well but that’s another story. Just don’t forget to experience Abruzzo’s specialty ‘Authentic Arrosticini’ while here and download the Italian popular free “WhatsApp” on your phone to text and call the United States free while you are traveling.
Until Next Month Ciao Bella! Lady Z
Abruzzo ~ A Hidden Gem
Fortunes in Love & Health & Money
Weekly Street Market In Loreto Aprutino
Arrosticini - A specialty of Abruzzo
Bookings accepted Tweens to Seniors: “Building Bridges, Connecting People: Tales on Culture, Heritage & Traditions” “Adventures In Abruzzo: An Exhibit & Video Presentation” Local to International Public Relations, Television, Social Media, Newspapers & Events Contact CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com