History of Sulmona

The Middle Age

By tradition the advent of Christianity dates back to III century, as attested on a funerary inscription dedicated to the novice Peticius Habentius. Initially the territory of the peligna Valley was formed by the only great diocese of Valva, which later was added of the diocese of Sulmona, after controversies with the Chapter of Corfinio. Neverthless first news on a Bishop from Sulmona date back to V century, when Palladio attended the first roman synod called by Pope Simmaco.

However, the most fecund period was under the Swabian dynasty, which sustained Sulmona, compelling the Bishop to establish his seat within the town walls.

During the reign of Frederic II, great civil works have been built, such as the Middle Age Aqueduct, one of the most important monuments of the time in our area. From a politic point of view, Sulmona was declared Commune under the Norman, and together with the Marsica, constituted a single wide province.

Frederic II, thanks to the articles of Memphis, promoted the city capital and seat of the Holy See of one of the widest Provinces in which he divided the continental part of the Reign. It involved the union of the provinces of Marsica and of Peligna Valley, called Aprutium, with the Diocese of Forcona, later L'Aquila. This new territory, or reign, derived its own toponym, that is Abruzzi, from the expression in partibus Aprutii, or usque ad aprutii fines, according to the investiture form of William I. From then, only the territory of abruzzi, unlike the other regions created by Frederic II, won't undergo any territorial change.

Moreover, Sulmona was the seat of the Giustizierato and of a Study of Canon Law, equivalent to the one in Naples. Great importance had the order according to which the first of the seven annual fairs held in seven cities of the reign, had to be the one held in Sulmona, (primae nundinae erunt apud Sulmonam) from April 23 to May 8. It was a golden period for our city, but it had to end soon.

At the end of the 1200, Sulmona was involved in the event of the only resigning pope, Brother Pietro da Morrone, better known as Celestino V. together with this event we have the constitution in Sulmona of the monastic congregation of the hermits of St. Damiano, then called Celestiniani.
Seat of the hermits is the Morrone Abbey, while the cell od Celestino V is still visible I the near hermitage of St. Onofrio.