Overview

Magliano de’ Marsi stands on three small hills protected by the majestic heights of mt. Velino end surrounded by wildlife. Its beauty tells us about the strength end tenacity of its ancient inhabitants.

About four thousand people inhabit Magliano de’ Marsi end its two hamlets, Rosciolo and Marano. Its name is mentioned for the first time, in an ancient document (1250) about the income of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta church, where there is a clear reference to a church of Santa Maria in Magliano de’ Marsi.

In earlier times the village wasn’t an independent caste because it belonged to carce, a major center whose name, little by little began to lose importance until it disappeared in the XV century.

In the XVI century the new church of Santa Lucia in Magliano took the place of the ancient parish church of San Martino in carce.

In the XVII century, Magliano rapidly developed, and its population increased and almost doubled in fifty years. In 1860, Magliano was involved in risorgimental affairs after having voted in favour of the house of Savoy and Italian unity. For this reason, the village risked an attack and a sack by the French army led by the general La Grange, sent by house of Bourbon. This happened between 19 and 20 of october.

Tradition tells us that Magliano was saved thanks to the intercession of its patron saints John and Paul (two roman soldiers) and St. Lucy. Now days local people remember this event every year on 20 of October celebrating it by doing a procession an a historical commemoration. Two violent earthquakes (1904 and 1915) devasted the village and 621 people died. The parish church collapsed only the bell tower, didn’t fall down. It was designed by Tommaso Di Lorenzo and built in 1880. Although subsequent events due to Italy joining the first world war, the inhabitants of Magliano rebuilt their village and 22 years later their church, symbol of their faith was rebuilt and the first holy mass was celebrated on Christmas night, 1937.