The origins of the village of Pettorano Sul Gizio start from the Middle Ages, but the surrounding area and the hills near the village have been known to man since Paleolithic times. Research conducted on the slopes of Mount Genzana and in other surrounding areas have provided ancient testimonies, especially tools that belonged to the first hunters who visited and sporadically inhabited these...

Originally the castle was probably comprised of only the central, pentagonal, lookout tower (strut) which is made of uneven stone and crowned above by corbels.   Around that grew the current perimeter structure which is characterised by the curtain wall (which completed the defensive system), the two round towers of different diameters at the north-west and south-west corners and the prismatic...

Over time, the door has been given various denominations: the ancient name of Porta Manere (or Manare) has been interpreted as being a connection with the old gate of  Manaresca in Sulmona, which was also East facing and whose Latin origin - "mane arescit" would suggest the aridity of the land due to its long exposure to the sun.   A second hypothesis connects the name of the gate with...

As one of the entries to the village of Pettorano this gate forms part of the ancient city wall.   The door of the mill itself is more modest with its unidentified stonework and a simple round arch. It was commissioned by the noble Cantelmo family in order to access to the mills and copper works that were located along the river Gizio. Nowadays three grain mills and a fulling mill are open to...

The inside of the village can be accessed via five of the six gates that made up the ancient walls of the village, that of San Nicola is located on the western side. At the top of the arch is a fresco depicting St. Margaret, the patron saint of the village, who supports the village with her left hand and in her right hand holds a cross.   The plaque embedded in the bottom with the date of...

The gate of Santa Margherita, located in the south-west of the village, formed the walls of Pettorano along with five other gates which were erected in the late Middle Ages. The patron saint of the village gives her name to this gate, and in fact this is the way to get to the sanctuary of the same name which is outside the walls. This access  leads to the outer road and to the other rural...

In the late Middle Ages, six gates were built in the walls of  the village of Pettorano.  Porta San Marco is one of the five which still remain. It was originally called the gate "of the stains" because it forms part of the road of the same name which leads to the church of San Rocco. Probably nearby was the site of a church dedicated to the saint who then gave his name to the door and to the...