Gamberale, Province of Chieti, Abruzzo

The village rises on the border with the Province of L'Aquila, among woods of firs, oaks and beech-trees which hide the small, picturesque Lake Gamberale.

Info

Altitude: 1343 m a.s.l
Distance from Chieti: 109 km
Population: ca. 3000 inhabitants in 201
Postal code: 66040
Dialing Area Code: +39 0872
Frazioni: Casale Stazione, Casale Tesoro, Piane d'Ischia, Sant'Antonio
How to reach it: by road, SS 84 from Roccaraso or SS 652 from Castel di Sangro.

History

The name of the small center derives from the Germanic gamhall(os) which means "ally", and later became Gamalarius(erius); what is certain is that during the twelfth century it is mentioned as Gambarum. The settlement rose around the 13th-century castle. During the centuries it came under a number of feudal lords: Rainaldo Anichino in the 15th century, in the 16th century Giovanni Maria Annechini, followed by Giovanni Crispano, then it was sold to baron Giuseppe Mellucci from Capua for 500 ducat; later it passed under Marquis Odoardo Benedett from the province L'Aquila and finally in 1777 to the Mascitelli family from Atessa.