Visita Chieti
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The historical Chieti rises on a hill, a relief whose maximum height corresponds to the primordial settlement: it stretches along the ridge, with different altimetric altitudes, a ridge that crosses the Roman and medieval cities.
The Greeks would have called it Theaté, from Theatos, because it was founded on a high hill that reveals around it a very extensive panorama from the sea to the mountains.
According to Strabo it was founded by the Arcadians and called Tegeate in memory of Tegea, the capital of Arcadia; the name would then be transformed into Tiati in the Marrucina era, Teate in the Roman era, into Theate, Thieti and finally Tieti in the medieval era, which changed to Chieti in the 16th century.
[Source: R. Bigi: Chieti. Past, present and ... future. Ed. Carabba]
ancient and roman history
According to legend, Chieti would be among the oldest cities in Italy. In fact, its historical origins are confused with mythology: a legend tells that the current Chieti was founded in 1181 BC. by the hero Achilles, who named her Teate in honor of her mother, the goddess Thetis.
Medieval history
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Chieti returned to have a predominant role under the domination of the Lombards who made it a gastaldato of royal domain, until it was destroyed by Pipino in 801.
The definitive historical break between the ancient and medieval cities is represented by the Sack of 801, when the city, at the time the prefecture of Lombard castles, defended by Count Roselmo, was set on fire.
late middle ages (476-1043)
early middle ages (1043-1492)
S. Paolo in the Dioscuri Church
modern history
During the Middle Ages, the noble Valignani (or Valignano) family, probably of Norman origin, arrived in Abruzzo Citra, which acquired various micro-lordships near Chieti, destined to have a leading role in the Theatine parliament and to influence city politics from the forties of the sixteenth century to the end of the seventeenth century, also thanks to a shrewd policy of alliances with other ambitious family groups settled in Chieti, such as the Tauldinos, Salaia, Enrici, Petrucci and Ramignani.
1500 - 1600
1700 - 1800
Achilles on his horse in the city coat of arms
1800 - 1900
- The origins of the name Abruzzo
- Independence day made in Chieti
- The mistery of the missing Achilles
- Chieti at the endo of '500
- Franceschelli and the tv
- The treasure of the crypt
- The treasure of the crypt
- Chieti and Renzo Arbore
- Juan Manuel Fangio and Juan Domingo Peron
- 1905 Chieti in the Guiness
- Denis Diderot & Ferdinando Galiani
Eminent men and women to whom Chieti gave birth, or who have crossed their history and their life with that of the city.