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Villa Brozzi is a frazione (suburb or surrounding village) of the commune of Montorio al Vomano in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. It is located approximately 8 kilometers from the Provincial Capital of Teramo.
The main church in Villa Brozzi is the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Brecciano.
One family from this village emigrated to America where they opened a pizzeria that has become quite popular in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Each day people travel from wide and far to this well highly regarded establishment that goes by the name of Nonna’s Italian Pizzeria. Nonna’s is also known for its architectural excellence, its structure having been inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and realized by Chicago’s finest, Joel Berman Architecture & Design.
Villa Brozzi is bordered on the north by Valle San Giovanni, to the northest by Frondarola, to the east by Collevecchio, and to the south by Montorio al Vomano (host of a lively and well attended street market year round each Wednesday AM).
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Montorio al Vomano is a town and commune in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. It is located at the upper inland entrance of the Vomano valley, on the banks of the river with the same name. The territory of the Montorio al Vomano commune contains a mountainous area but in larger part is made up of hills and open plains. A hilly incline known as Il Colle (The Hill) leads up from the right bank of this river and provides a beautiful view of the valley below. Above the town are the ruins of the Fortress San Carlo, initiated in 1686 by the Spanish Marchese del Carpio to fight against the brigand forces.
There are several hypotheses regarding the origination of the name “Montorio”. The most likely is that the name derives from the Latin Mons Aureus (Golden Mountain), referring to the plains surrounding the town that were once covered in a luxurious open expanses of golden grains. Supporting this theory are the shape and configuration of the town symbol which shows three hills, each with a sheath of grain planted atop.
The discovery of the ruins of a temple dedicated to Hercules attests to ancient origins of the city. It is believed that present day Montorio al Vomano sits in the location of the old city of Beregra, mentioned by geographers in the classical age of Rome. During medieval times, Montorio al Vomano experienced an important period of growth and development. Records show the town referred to as Mons Aureus before finally taking on its current name of Montorio al Vomano.
Montorio al Vomano hosts a number of expanding economic enterprises. A multinational Canadian glass bottle and container factory, Consumers Glass, is known throughout the world. The agriculture of the area is centered around grains and olives as well as wood products. In the future, salt and sulfur thermal springs located in nearby Piane di Collevecchio are likely to see increased activity and further serve to diversify the local economy.
On the outskirts of town, towards Teramo, is the Church of San Lorenzo which sits atop ancient Roman archaeological findings. The remains of the Temple of Hercules is located about four miles from Montorio al Vomano in the direction of L’Aquila along an ancient Roman road.
A somewhat idiosyncratic tradition of the people of Montorio al Vomano occurs during the carnival season. Its theme is death itself and derives from the comedy of arts, a populist style of theater developed in Italy in the sixteenth century. The origins of this custom probably relate to the removal and collection of the trappings of the just-completed carnival season on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. A coffin accompanied by throngs of people, including costumed mourners in funeral attire, is carried through the streets. Funeral dirges are played and interspersed with irreverent passages of joy and happiness.
The tradition of the ‘Stu, whose origination is unknown, takes place around the Christmas Holidays. During the celebration the townspeople gather together and are met by small groups of people carrying decks of 40 playing cards depicting historical figures. These encounters and card games are characterized by gestures, animated discussions, and salty witticisms in the local vernacular dialect. This custom is practiced in very few Italian communities and may well have ancient Irish roots from a pre-Christian era.
One dish appreciated by many of the citizens of the area is grilled trout. The gastronomy of Montorio is perhaps best characterized by homemade pastry products assembled in accordance with ancient local customs. A representative dish is the well known Bocconotti, made in the traditional manner of Abruzzo using fresh eggs, almonds, olive oil, lemons and grape preserves. In order to enhance its flavor, the delecacy is typically accompanied by a refreshing glass of the local red wine. Pizza Dolce is a cake with a velvety cream frosting and is commonly garnished with crushed sweet almonds, cinnamon, and bitter chocolate. It can often be found at wedding celebrations.
