Lama dei Peligni

The Village of Lama dei Peligni is located in Abruzzo, inside dela Majella National Park.
The name has its origins pre-Latin, and originates from the word “blade” that literally meant “counterbore”, “ground where the water stagnates”; later, is to be considered the addition referred to the italic people, the Peligni precisely, that you would be pushed up to the territory of the Aventino River, near which rises the village.

The territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as amply testified by a series of cave paintings found in the caves of the area and the remains of a village of the Neolithic period. In the roman age, the area was inhabited by the Italic tribes of Carecini of derivation sannita, distributed in the main population centers of Cluviae and Juvanum.
The period of the Middle Ages it became known for the presence of some and hermitages, at which they dwelled ascetics and saints; among the many must be mentioned the Blessed Roberto from Salle, disciple of Pope Celestine V, housed at the local Hermitage of Sant’Angelo.

The development of the country in the field of production of wool came from the Renaissance era.
The country was completely destroyed by violent earthquakes and in the Second World War; became part of the Brigade Maiella, the country was liberated by the Germans on 31 January 1944. In the vicinity is situated the Grotta del Cavallone wherein Gabriele D Annunzio ambientò daughter Di Iorio.

Worth a visit the Naturalistic Museum of Archeology “Maurizio Locati” and the Botanical Garden “Michele Tenore”.

La Figlia di Iorio by Gabriele D Annunzio

The village is famous for having been chosen by Gabriele d’Annunzio, together to the Caves of the Cavallone, as scenery of his tragedy the daughter of Iorio. Lama dei Peligni in history is inhabited by shepherds, among which there is the family of Lazaro, coming from Roio del Sangro, that is to celebrate the marriage of the young Aligi, son of the head of the family, with a local canter. However Aligi refuses his beloved, because it s the captivating peasant of thousand, which saves from a lynching of shepherds, because believed a witch who brings evil. In the opera d’Annunzio highlights very the appearance of the village and its inhabitants who base their certainties in religious beliefs of Christianity and paganism, and who do not hesitate to consider the stranger as a be malignant who wants to bring the misfortune in the country.