Carla Verzella is the councillor for Tourism in Moscufo, a beautiful town in the province of Pescara, one of Abruzzo’s many treasures with an agricultural vocation, best known for the production of the excellent and renowned extra virgin olive oil, which is the real liquid gold of this area, as it was produced here by the ancient Vestini well over 2,000 years ago. And you don’t expect an alderman to get excited every time he describes “his” treasures. First the Baroque church of S. Cristoforo next to the Town Hall, then the adjacent historic building with the Italic Necropolis of the Vestini, in which one can visit the remains of precious infant grave goods, the result of excavations that, together with those of the famous church of S. Maria del Lago return a broad panorama of the history of Moscufo, a proud community that lived for 2,500 years in the same places. We then enter the church of St. Mary of the Lake, which is the pride of this area, and Carla shows not only that she loves art but that she loves people, and that she does not want to win them over as buyers of a ticket, or customers, but just as humans.

Looking up, one is seized by a feeling of wonder: a wonderfully preserved ambo on the left (the ambo is the raised tribune that in early Christian churches served for the reading of the gospel), a true masterpiece of the mysterious master Nicodemus of Guardiagrele who made it in 1159, a beautiful example of Romanesque sculpture. The work, made of stone, still retains traces of the color with which it was painted and still exudes the fairy-tale charm typical of the meeting of different cultures.The same church still houses a valuable Madonna and Child from around 1465, the work of Andrea De Litio, the greatest Abruzzese painter of his time.

We drive to the farm of Antonella Ciarcelluto, who together with her husband are waiting for us with a welcoming smile and a selected buffet of products made by them, wise farmers whom I invite you to get to know more closely to touch with your own hands how much biodiversity, wisdom, and earth there is behind a simple drop of extra virgin olive oil.

Moscufo, with the towns of Pianella and Loreto Aprutino form the so-called “golden triangle” of Abruzzo. From centuries-old olive trees of the “straight” or “moscufese” variety. The quality of the soil, its composition, the way it is arranged and oriented, make it possible to obtain a qualitatively excellent product. The harvested olives are cold pressed in typical mills, thus obtaining a first-press extra virgin oil, recognizable by its typical green color and fresh, fruity flavor.

Among the many companies featured are :

Ciarcelluto Antonella organic farm , C.da Selvaiella n.7 Moscufo (PE). 085-979180, 334 6064153

facebook.com/AziendaAgricolaCiarcelluto/
La Selva di Abruzzo Farm, Via Santa Maria #3 Moscufo (PE) 085979181, 338 9119435 www.laselvadabruzzo.eu

How to reach Moscufo:

By Car
From the North: Adriatica A14 highway towards Ancona, exit at Pescara Nord/ Città Sant’Angelo, continue on SS 16 towards Montesilvano, continue on SP 151 to Cappelle sul Tavo and take SP 21 to Moscufo. From the South: A14 Adriatica highway towards Pescara, follow direction Pescara Ovest/ Chieti, A 25 to Rome, Sambuceto, continue on SS 602 following directions to Moscufo.