Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Abruzzo
- Province
- Teramo (TE)
- Frazioni
- Befaro, Carraro, Casette Faiano, Colledoro, Morriconi, Palombara, San Rocco, Villa Rossi
- Mayor
- Enzo De Rosa
- Total
- 49 km (19 sq mi)
- Elevation
- 497 m (1,631 ft)
- Density
- 26/km (66/sq mi)
- Demonym
- Castellani
- Time zone
- UTC+1 ( CET )
- Summer dst
- UTC+2 ( CEST )
- Dialing code
- 0861
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Castelli (Abruzzese: Li Castìllë) is a comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy, included in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
The medieval hill town lies beneath Mount Camicia on the eastern side of the Gran Sasso Massif. Castelli is best known for its maiolicas, a form of decorative ceramic, which were collected by the nobility of Europe for centuries and which were at their pinnacle from the 16th through 18th century and are still produced today by local artists. Castelli maiolica was a favorite dinnerware of Russian Tsars. One of the most valued collections of Castelli ceramics is now housed at the Winter Palace of the Hermitage State Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.