Nestled on a system of hills inhabited since the 5th millennium BC, Chieti preserves the memory of ancient Teate, which legend claims was founded by Achilles. From the Marrucini to the Roman imperial era, through to the twentieth century, the city has traversed centuries of history while conserving a rare heritage that survived pillaging and bombings. Its heart tells this long story at every corner. The Cathedral of San Giustino and the eighteenth-century Teatro Marrucino preserve the civic and religious soul of the city, while the Pinacoteca Barbella and noble palaces such as Palazzo De' Mayo bear witness to its elegance. The great Roman Teate resurfaces in the small temples, the Roman Theatre and the Baths, alongside churches, nineteenth-century villas such as Villa Frigerj and evocative views like the Civitella. Ideally completing this interweaving of archaeology, faith and panoramas is Porta Pescara, the sole survivor of the nine ancient medieval gates. Photographer: Leonida Del Ponte
Via Chiarini 9A walking itinerary to discover Chieti, the Abruzzese city whose roots stretch back to the ancient Teate, which, according to legend, was founded by Achilles and inhabited since the fifth millennium BC. The route unfolds across 15 stages, weaving together Roman history, sacred art, and urban elegance, telling the long story of a city that — from the Marrucini people through the Imperial Age and into the twentieth century — has managed to preserve much of its heritage.
