A favorite destination for writers, artists, and travelers, Antwerp is linked to the figure of Gabriele D'Annunzio, who set his tragedy "The Torch under the Bushel" here... #tuttitaly
In the historical center, the 317 inhabitants of Anversa degli Abruzzi live their daily lives. And right in the main square is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the village symbol. Built-in the 16th century, the church has a beautiful Renaissance portal, built in 1540, and inside it preserves some treasures of the small village: the statue of San Rocco, a carved and gilded wooden tabernacle, and a copy of the Antwerp Triptych.
The Church of San Marcello, the pope, and martyr, the town's patron saint, is also worth a visit. Built in the 11th century, the church was later enlarged and embellished under the lordship of Nicolò da Procida, whose coat of arms is carved on the portal's top.
In the village, there are also the remains of two churches built in the past, currently disappearing, that of Santa Maria di Nives and that of San Vincenzo.
Another village symbol is the Norman Castle, built in the 12th century to control one of the southern accesses to the Peligna Valley. Subsequently, during the fifteenth century, it underwent a strengthening by the di Sangro family. And after the Counts of Sangro, the castle became the home of the Belprato family. These embellished it, making it a center of attraction for intellectuals and artists. It was precisely here that, recently, Gabriele d'Annunzio set the tragedy "The Torch under the Bushel."
Today, only the ruins of the Castle can be admired, which nevertheless continues to testify to the grandeur of the village.
Nature lovers can also visit the Sagittario Gorges Nature Reserve, which offers numerous trails and breathtaking views.
