The village of Fara San Martino is immersed in the greenery of the Majella National Park. A magnificent place in the heart of Abruzzo, in the province of Chieti. How not to make it a stop and, at the same time, your own base camp for spectacular excursions in the scenic surroundings.
It is also an ideal destination for gourmands. Not by chance Fara San Martino is the capital of pasta. The village is so called because there are some of the most important pasta factories in Italy, from De Cecco to Cocco, up to Delverde. The delicacies don't stop there. There are many typical products to taste, which we will list later.
Fara San Martino history
The origins of the village of Fara San Martino date back to the Middle Ages. The proof is given by the Church of San Pietro and that of San Martino, annexed to a Benedictine monastery that gave way to the town of Fara, or Farah.
A term that has its roots in the Lombard world. It comes from the Germanic Fahren, meaning displacement. San Martino instead derives from the Abbey built in honor of the saint, bishop of Tour. Before passing under the control of the Vatican, the ancient village was led by Benedictine monks and was so until the fifteenth century. Considerably damaged during the Second World War, today it presents its original elements only in the oldest nucleus.
Fara San Martino what to see
The historic center of Fara San Martino is very rich, starting with Terra Vecchia and Palazzo Di Cecco. In the first case we are talking about a very ancient village and in the second a building of great importance to be admired in amazement, with string courses, decorated windows and a portal with a round arch.
There are several churches in which to stop, from San Remigio, which dates back to the thirteenth century, to the Church of the Annunziata, built during the sixteenth century, up to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and that of the Madonna del Suffragio, which dates back to the eighteenth century. In Piazza Municipio you can find the Educational Museum, which manages the visitor center for the Majella National Park. The territory is full of places to discover. An ideal place for hiking enthusiasts. For example, you can visit the karst caves, such as the famous Grotta del Perschio. The list extends with Grotta Porca degli Angeli, Grotta dei Diavoli and Grotta de li Trazzir. Along the way you will also arrive at the sources of the Verde River, as well as the Gorges of San Martino, which boasts the remains of the abbey.
Fara San Martino typical dishes
Absolutely to be tasted in Fara San Martino is pasta. You cannot do otherwise in a place that is known as the capital of pasta. Beyond this obligatory stop, there are other delicacies to taste:
- Lamb ragout
- Boiled tarallucci
- Stuffed birds (Abruzzo tarallucci with grape jam)
- Amaretti biscuits
- Mostaccioli (biscuits with a soft inside and chocolate icing coating)
