Ortona

1. Our town
ORTONA

3. The History of Ortona
The origins of Ortona are uncertain. Presumably, it was first
inhabited by the Frentani, an Italic population. In 2005, during
works near the Castle, a Bronze Age settlement was
discovered, and the Roman town largely coincided with this
first settlement. Some sections of paved roads and urban walls,
as well as some archaeological findings are the only remains of
this period. Ortona remained a part of the Roman Empire (i.e.,
the Byzantine Empire) for several centuries, before it was
annexed by the Kingdom of the Lombards. In 803 the Franks
incorporated Ortona into the county of Chieti. From that date
on, the town remained tied to Chieti and its territory.

4. Ortona is a coastal town and municipality of the
Province of Chieti in the Italian region of Abruzzo, with
some 23,000 inhabitants. Ortona was the site of fierce
fighting between the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division and
the 1st Canadian Infantry Division during the Italian
campaign in World War II. The ferocity of the Battle of
Ortona led it to be known as the "Little Stalingrad.
Ortona declined in the early Middle Ages and
reflourished during the Swavian domination. In 1566 it
was burnt down by the Turks and passed into the hand
of Margareth of Austria ,then the Farnesi and finally
the Bourbons. In December 1943, it was the site of a
violent battle and suffered serious damages. Ortona
was named The little Stalingrad

5. • The Little Stalingrad

6. The Canadian Cemetery

7. The Canadian Cemetery
The Moro River Canadian War Cemetery lies in the
locality of San Donato in Ortona and is situated on
high ground near the sea just east of the main
Adriatic coast road (SS16). It contains the graves
of those who died during that fighting at Moro
river and Ortona, and during the weeks that
preceded and followed it. In December 1943
alone, the 1st Canadian Division suffered over 500
fatal battle casualties.Moro River Canadian War
Cemetery contains 1,615 Commonwealth burials
of the Second World War.

8. The Museum of the Battle (MUBA) is located
in Ortona in via Garibaldi, in the former convent of
Sant’Anna which was seriously damaged during the
battle of Ortona. Set up in 2002, it is made up of three
exhibition rooms, dedicated to civilians, the two
armies and the strategies used in the bloody battle.

9. Saint Thomas Cathedral

10. Saint Thomas Bust Saint Thomas Statue

11. Saint Thomas Cathedral
• The patron saint of Ortona is Saint Thomas the Apostle
(Tommaso), whose relics were brought to Ortona by the sailor
Leone Acciaiuoli and kept in the Cathedral that was built in
1258. In the first half of the 15th century its walls were built, and
during this period Ortona fought with the nearby town of
Lanciano in a fierce war that ended in 1427. On June 30, 1447,
ships from Venice destroyed the port of Ortona; consequently at
that time was commissioned the construction of a Castle to
dominate the renovated port. In 1582 the town was acquired by
Margaret of Parma, daughter of Emperor Charles V and Duchess
of Parma. In 1584 Margaret decided to build a great mansion
(known as Palazzo Farnese), which was never completed due to
her death. . It was reconstructed after the Second World War but
the anterior part still presents a Gothic portal, which was
recomposed from fragments. On the altar there is a ciborium
containing a silver bust enclosing the saint’s skull and bones.

12. • The Aragonese Castle

13. The Aragonese Castle was erected in XV century to
defend Ortona in the war against Venice, though it is
believed by many scholars that the architect, Giacomo
Caldora, had only to strengthen a more ancient
fortress, instead of erecting a new one.The basis of
the castle is trapezoidal. It is featured by four
cylindrical towers. Seriously damaged by the
bombardments in 1943 and the following mudslide,
today it has been completely restored. From the
castle there are stunning views of the sea, the port of
Ortona and the old fishermen’s borough, where many
restaurants, bar and pizzerias welcome the tourists to
this remarkable historical and natural scenary

14. The Farnese Palace
The design of the palace was commissioned to
Giacomo Della Porta, one of the most highly
reckoned architects in Rome .Actually the palace
houses Cascella ‘s paintings and is an Art Gallery
and a museum.

15. • F.P. Tosti Theatre

16. Francesco Paolo Tosti theatre
The theatre is an important and monumental construction
for the town of Ortona. It opened its doors in 1930. After a
decay period, it has now regained its ancient splendour
thanks to a diligent and careful restoration work.
Notwithstanding its small dimensions, the theatre is a
stately building complying with the classic academicism
that signed the constructions in the big European towns at
that time.

17. The “Passeggiata Orientale”
is a promenade which dominates the port and
faces the Adriatic sea.

18. The Trabocco
The Teatine coastline is called the “Costa dei Trabocchi”
because of the trabocchi, picturesque wooden fishing
installations that line the coast.

19. The Feast of Pardon
is held on the 1st May each year with an
historical procession.

20. To sum up,
it’s a pleasure for me to thank my preciuous
colleague and cute friend Romina who as a
dame is walking along the procession

21. THE END
AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Danila Rodolfo e Romina Marchesani