If you’re a fan of dragons or mythical and fantastic beasts, there are some great examples to be discovered in Abruzzo that don’t just rely upon the mythical sword skills of the Turkish St George and his dragon story.
The Church of Leucio, Atessa (CH)
A visit to this church could be entertaining for children who have always wanted to see a dragon’s rib!
The church of Leucio in Atessa is the only Italian church that holds a 2-metre dragon’s bone as a relic, originally it held a phial of its blood too!
An expert dragon slayer, The Bishop of Leucio arrived from Brindisi where he had just obliged its citizens with the removal of their dragon. He went down to the swamp outside what was then 2 villages and fed the dragon for 3 days, when the dragon could barely move from being so full, he chained him up and killed him. He drained the blood that was later used by the community as a healing potion.
San Pietro di Coppito, L’Aquila (AQ)
The Quadrato Magico, S. Lucia in Magliano dei Marsi (AQ)
San Giovanni ad Insulam, Isola Gran Sasso (TE)
Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta (AQ)
The Tower, Fontecchio (AQ)
San Liberatore a Maiella, Serramonacesca (PE)
San Pietro portal ad oratorium, Capestrano (AQ)
Photo Credits: Facebook LifeInAbruzzo Group – Peter Austin, Janet Brady | Valerio Ivomontanaro
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 12 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance SEO food and travel copywriter and EFL teacher. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo. she is the founder of the 'English in the Woods' initiative, teaching English outdoors in a forest style school.
