THEAbruzzo it is a land rich in wonderful landscapes and historic villages perched on the hills. One of these is Pescocostanzo (L'Aquila), characterized by typical houses with external stairs, protected by protruding canopies. The name of the village Pescus Constantii it appears for the first time in the second half of the XNUMXth century (we only have news of the first part of the name: Pesco, da pesculum, “Peschio”, the rocky base on which the ancient inhabited center was formed). Since the Middle Ages, it has been a thriving center of craftsmanship.
Pescocostanzo is called the town of intertwined threads because of the ancient arts that developed there and which still survive today. Tomb laces, filigree, tapestries, wrought iron, wood carvings are characteristic elements of this village on the slopes of Mount Calvario. In this extraordinary place, the link with craftsmanship relives annually in the Festival of ancient crafts, in which the local population participates, very tied to the traditions.
The handicraft in Pescocostanzo: the bobbin lace
One of the craft activities practiced in Pescocostanzo since the second half of the fourteenth century is the bobbin lace. The pillow is nothing more than the tool used by women to make delicate and refined lace laces. It consists of three parts: a wooden support; a circular drum (the bobbin lace real), padded and covered with cloth and colored fabrics; the bobbin, on which the individual threads are woven. It is not easy to go back to the exact historical period in which we passed from working with the needle to that with bobbins (called tammarieje).
However, the development of bobbin lace in Pescocostanzo dates back to 1456. After the earthquake that struck central-southern Italy, Lombard workers arrived in the village who brought various craft traditions, such as the processing of lace, gold filigree, stone , of wrought iron. According to a legend, however, in 1547, at the time when Caterina de 'Medici became passionate about the art of lace, bobbin making was born in Venice, and through trade with the Kingdom of Naples, it also reached Abruzzo. Soon the art of the tombolo became the main source of economic sustenance of this small reality.
Weaving, an art handed down from an early age
All women, including the nuns of Fanzago Palace (at the time a cloistered convent of the Poor Clares) they tried their hand at weaving. The teaching of this art began from an early age, through the gradual execution of the "card", which gives the basic notions. For this reason, every girl of marriageable age possessed a princely trousseau (richly embroidered tablecloths, sheets, handkerchiefs, but also doilies and lace).
Men also gave their contribution to the work: the Majella master carpenters took care of making the bobbins and the appropriate support stand for the pillow, in walnut, pear or seasoned olive wood; the tailors prepared the pillow and its stuffing; the designer worked out the models. The bobbin lace it took on a sacred character when it began to be used to embroider the garments of the statues kept in local churches and private chapels.
The bobbin lace school and the museum
In the Palazzo Fanzago, in Piazza Municipio, you can visit the Bobbin Lace School and the Museum and Market Exhibition of Crafts, created by the Municipality in the 90s. In the school the craftsmen are trained, following the stages of processing: from drawing, to printing, to the choice of materials, up to the processing of lace. The museum collects artifacts and information on the art of bobbin lace, illustrates the processing stages and exhibits a collection of ancient laces from private citizens and ecclesiastical kits. It is set up on two floors.
On the first floor are exhibited the products of local artistic craftsmanship (carpets, goldsmiths, wrought iron, carved wood and worked stone). On the second floor, two rooms house historical and recent works, including the composition called "The Prince's Breakfast", which reconstructs a table set with handicrafts.
The tapestries of Pescocostanzo
According to a legend, it was Turkish and Cypriot slaves who introduced the art of carpets to Pescocostanzo. However, some data suggests that this is not just a fictional story. It is known that, before the year 1000, groups of Orientals (especially Greeks, Albanians and Bulgarians) lived along the Abruzzo and Apulian coasts and in the internal territories. In this area large quantities of wool were produced and the women remained isolated, probably making carpets, when the men led the flocks to overwinter in the Apulian territories.
Technically, the carpet of Pescocostanzo has some characteristics that differentiate it from the so-called Persian knotted ones. The tapestriesin reality, they resemble the Perugian tablecloths and the Sumak carpets, woven by the people of the Caucasus of the Karabagh region. They were never used to cover floors, but wedding trunks, benches, walls and beds. All particularly elaborate, they are the result of the imagination and skill of the women of Pescocostanzo, which make them the most beautiful textile product of Italian folk art.
The filigree and the characteristic jewels of Pescocostanzo
The first reference to the goldsmith's activity, by the general cadastre of the municipality of Pescocostanzo, dates back to 1748. However, in Colle Riina, the opening of three Lombard tombs that have remained intact, has allowed the discovery of interesting silver jewels with motifs filigree, found during archaeological excavations. Filigree is a kind of gold and silver processing through which thin twisted metal wires, or foils, shaped or spiralized, are intertwined and welded to form arabesques and designs. There processing and hand welding give the product a particular softness.
Typical examples of these traditional crafts are: the so-called “presentosa”, a gold filigree brooch; “La cannatora”, a choker consisting of a “vacura” thread in embossed foil; the “cecquaje”, earrings and brooches worked in openwork, embellished with stones, cameos, corals, which reproduce objects, figures or amulets of apotropaic inspiration; the "attachments", to support the sheep's wool thread used to obtain socks and sweaters.
The wrought iron
In the village, the art of iron has existed since about the fifteenth century, due to a widespread relationship with emigrated Lombard masters, composed of stonecutters, carvers, blacksmiths. The highest period of wrought iron art was reached in the seventeenth century, with the blacksmith Sante Di Rocco. He was responsible for the construction of the gate that closes the access to the Cappellone del Sacramento, at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Colle, the most important church in the town. The main altar is by Nicodemo Donatelli preceded by a gate. Even today, in Pescocostanzo, this ancient art is practiced. Just as the long tradition of stonemasons remains.
Tourist destination
For all these characteristics and for many others, Pescocostanzo has become a destination for tourism, art and culture. In fact, the exceptional surrounding natural environment joins the wonderful village. Pescocostanzo is a place rich in traditions and craftsmanship, where culture, art and nature blend perfectly, and are indissolubly intertwined like the bobbin threads, making it a unique village to be discovered.
(Photo The Portal of Pescocostanzo, Wonders of Abruzzo, Museo del tombolo di Pescocostanzo Facebook page)
