Campli is located on the northern border of Abruzzo, just south of Italy’s Marche Region. Archaeological research indicates that a thriving settlement existed in this area even before the era of the Roman Empire. Artifacts in this area include a good number of flint tools, leather scrapers, knives, hatchets, lance tips, arrowheads, and so on, unearthed during the recent construction of soccer field. Also discovered in nearby Coccioli are 14th century A.C. traces of a village dedicated to farming and herding. Evidence of a necropolis in use from the 12th to the 2nd century A.D. exists in a location known as Italica di Campovalano. More recent Roman Empire artifacts include temples, aqueducts, streets, domed structures, statues, epigraphs, coins and the such. Research conducted by a team of scholars from the province of Reati has unequivocally established that Hannibal passed through the territory of Campli in the course of crossing a pass through the Gemelle Mountains which separate Campli and an area known as Fiori.
In the days of the Roman Empire, Campli became known for such illustrious individuals as Lenate, the devoted slave of Pompeo, and Tazio Lucio Rufo, who, although born into a humble family, rose to the highest military ranks. His prowess won the admiration and respect of the Roman emperor Augustus.
The first known post Roman Empire writings regarding Campli can be found in the 894 A.D. document “Cartulario della Chiesa teramana”. This set of documents reveal that Adalberto, son of Sir Ludovico, count of Abruzzo, granted «in territorio Aprutensi quod nominatur Campi» a landholding to Giovanni, Bishop of Teramo. In the 13th century an author by the name of Gavini wrote of Campli’s being a thriving urban center with the houses of several nobles facing the town’s main thoroughfare.
In 1271, following a period in which the town was ruled by Carlo d’Angiò, king of Naples, Campli was ceded to Arduino d’Averio. In 1286, along with three other feudal states, Campli fought in a series of skirmishes against the nearby city of Teramo. Previous to these battles nearby areas, including Castelnuovo and Nocella, had been reinforced with heavy fortifications. Between the years 1293 and 1296 a weekly outdoor market was founded. This originally took place each Thursday but was later switched to Sundays where it remains to this day.
In the 13th century Campli’s commercial pursuits brought the city riches and power. This process continued into the 14th century during which time street improvements were undertaken, the Palazzo Parlamento (parliament palace – this today being the oldest such existing structure in Abruzzo) was renovated and expanded, the city annexed several feuds, hospitals and clinics were established, and the Campli’s bulwarks were redesigned and fortified. Under the Neapolitan rulers Ladislao and Queen Giovanna, Campli received a good number of administrative privileges. In 1363 the Neapolitan queen granted the city the right to hold a three day festival each year in honor of Saint Margarita as well as the honor of autonomously choosing civil judicial authorities. After peace was established with Teramo in 1372 Campli became an independent communal capital. In 1442, at the urging of a local citizen by the name of Pasquale Ricci, Campli attained the status of royal daemon.
Border skirmishes with both Teramo and Civitella erupted once again in the years 1430 and 1479. In the early 15th century Campli was a “città reginale” (Queen’s city), that is direct property of Queen Giovanna II, the widow of Ferdinand I. The year 1520 brought a lull in the battles that had been raging with Civitella. During this lull in hostilities, in combination with hopes of continued peaceful relations with Teramo, Campli constructed a building which became known as the Palazzo di Parlamento (Parlimentary Palace). This was perhaps the first masonry structure of its kind in all Italy. It came to signal the city’s importance as a cultural and civic center as well as to highlight Campli’s growing economic achievements and riches.
Charles V deeded Campli and its surrounding areas to his daughter Margarita of Austria. It was enveloped into the Farnese feudal holdings after Margarita, in her second marriage, wed Ottavio Farnese, a nephew of Pope Paul III and Duke of Parma and Piacenza. In doing so the area passed from being a territorial demesne to feudal holding within the Farnese Dukedom, themselves under Venetian rule.
During medieval times alliances with northern Italian cities brought Campli considerable cultural development, especially in the fine arts. In honor of the 1598 wedding of Ranuccio Farnese and Margarita Aldobrandina, Campli bequested one thousand ducats to Ranuccio and five hundred ducats to Margarita. Even during this golden period, however, troubling episodes erupted. In 1557 for example papal forces under the Duke of Guisa, with the support of additional French soldiers, invaded Campli in what has become known as the “Guerra del Tronto” (War of the Tronto River Basin). The attacking soldiers used treason and trickery to enter the city center and once there, committed a great number of atrocities against the local citizenry. Damage estimates approached the princely sum of two hundred thousand ducats. After years of opposition against the city of Teramo, with the support of Ranuccio Farnese, Campli received the official designation of city and, along with Ortona, another city under Farnese rule, became a Catholic bishopric.
In the 17th century Campli experienced a slow but inexorable economic decline. The phenomena can be partially explained by the fact that the city is situated in a location that geographically limits the possibility of expansion. In addition, Campli’s location on the border of two nation states made the city a gathering place for brigands who took up residence there. This led to an explosion of crime rates rose as endless ongoing battles raged between the outlaws and the many military forces who were soon detailed to patrol and reconquer the area. These were difficult times in the history of Campli, made worse by the ensuing disasters in the form of food shortages, plagues, and earthquakes. The French occupation of the city did little to alleviate these difficulties. The nadir came under the rule of a Frenchman by the name of De Donatis, who was given the nickname “prete brigante” (the brigand priest). Only with the construction of the Scala Santa (Sacred Steps), authorized by Pope Clement’s 1773 Papal Bull, was a modicum of relief brought to the city’s fate.
Today Campli boasts a historic center known for its lay and ecclesiastical architectural masterpieces. These include the Museo Nazionale Archeologico (an archaeological museum), the Museo Statale d’Arte Sacra (a state museum dedicated to church works), and the Santuario della Scala Santa (sanctuary of the sacred steps). Very nearby in the necropolis of Campovalano, is the Parco Acherologicalo (archaeological park). It goes without saying that Campli is is also well known for its gastronomic fare.
from Campli Nostra Notizie
Courtesy of Nicolino Farina
Translation by Stephen Mark Ulissi
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