A document from the year 1055 shows the area called "Mons Alberici" among the properties of the Count Trasmondo III. Identification of the geographic area was rebuilt by Sabatini, who tends to overlap "Mons Alberici" with "Pizzi Castel Alberico ie. Castelletta" on the southeast district of the town of Palena. We do not know yet when the topography of the area went from Mount/Castle Alberico to Castelletta, but whichever time it may have been it should correspond to the construction of this little fortified farm.
An internal lintel confirms that the building was restored in 1792, built as a rest stop for the travelling herds in transit from Abruzzo to Puglia. A fortified farm at which the shepherds could spend the night in the course of their transfer to the south. It is not a coincidence that in 1450 "the Pizzi" are shown as a transit point for flocks toward the highlands or direct to the valley of the river Sangro. It was an area of extreme importance to the garrison and therefore a small castle was built and called "Castelletta."
The original quadrangular building with the two cylindrical towers on the sides of the main facade leads to hypothesize of a first foundation around the fifteenth century. In respect of the strategic, physical and historical importance of the building it means that it has been passed down from owner to owner. At the end of the 19th century the Baroni Croce Nanni of Palena became the owners and in turn sold it to the Burracchio family of Chieti.
The building presents itself compact in size, it is accessed through a large doorway which leads into a courtyard, at the sides of the courtyard there are two wings designed to store farming tools. A double staircase made up of two perpendicular ramps lead to the upper floor where a small noble chapel overlooks the top landing.
A living room with a large fireplace is the backbone of the main floor, facing it another four smaller rooms including the kitchen at the center of which is placed a large fireplace.
A document from the year 1055 shows the area called "Mons Alberici" among the properties of the Count Trasmondo III. Identification of the geographic area was rebuilt by Sabatini, who tends to overlap "Mons Alberici" with "Pizzi Castel Alberico ie. Castelletta" on the southeast district of the town of Palena. We do not know yet when the topography of the area went from Mount/Castle Alberico to Castelletta, but whichever time it may have been it should correspond to the construction of this little fortified farm.
An internal lintel confirms that the building was restored in 1792, built as a rest stop for the travelling herds in transit from Abruzzo to Puglia. A fortified farm at which the shepherds could spend the night in the course of their transfer to the south. It is not a coincidence that in 1450 "the Pizzi" are shown as a transit point for flocks toward the highlands or direct to the valley of the river Sangro. It was an area of extreme importance to the garrison and therefore a small castle was built and called "Castelletta."
The original quadrangular building with the two cylindrical towers on the sides of the main facade leads to hypothesize of a first foundation around the fifteenth century. In respect of the strategic, physical and historical importance of the building it means that it has been passed down from owner to owner. At the end of the 19th century the Baroni Croce Nanni of Palena became the owners and in turn sold it to the Burracchio family of Chieti.
The building presents itself compact in size, it is accessed through a large doorway which leads into a courtyard, at the sides of the courtyard there are two wings designed to store farming tools. A double staircase made up of two perpendicular ramps lead to the upper floor where a small noble chapel overlooks the top landing.
A living room with a large fireplace is the backbone of the main floor, facing it another four smaller rooms including the kitchen at the center of which is placed a large fireplace.
