Audiotour Chieti: between story and legend

Chieti, ancient Teate Marrucinorum, has historical roots linked to the Marrucini people, who after fighting against Rome became its allies in 304 BC, participating in important battles against Pyrrhus, Hannibal, and Perseus of Macedon. During the Republic and the Empire, the city experienced significant urban development, thanks also to the construction of aqueducts, temples, a theatre, an amphitheatre, and baths. Traces of these structures are still visible.

With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Chieti entered a new historical phase, becoming an important Lombard centre in the Duchy of Benevento and subsequently passing under Frankish rule. In the Middle Ages, the city reorganized around the Cathedral and the palaces of the noble families, being enriched with churches, convents, and fortified structures.

With the arrival of the Aragonese and then the Spanish, Chieti assumed a prominent role in Abruzzo Citra, becoming an administrative centre of great importance. The Spanish era led to the construction and renovation of noble palaces and churches in the Baroque style.

With the 18th-century establishment of the Kingdom of Naples under the Bourbon dynasty, Chieti further consolidated its function as an administrative centre. During this period, the main streets were widened, neoclassical palaces were built, and cultural activities related to the Neapolitan Enlightenment spread.

After Unification in 1861, Chieti was designated a provincial capital, a role that contributed to its institutional and urban growth. The construction of the railway station in 1873 and the development of the Chieti Scalo area brought about a profound economic and social transformation, accompanied by 20th-century industrialisation with factories such as the Manifattura Tabacchi (Tobacco Manufacturer) and the Celdit. In the second post-war period, the city saw the expansion of new neighbourhoods and services, and became a university town with the founding of the “Gabriele d’Annunzio” University, which strengthened its cultural and scientific role.

According to legend, the origins of Chieti are intertwined with the figure of Achilles, the Peleid hero celebrated in the Iliad. It is said that, before the Trojan War, Achilles arrived on the Adriatic coasts and discovered a fertile and strategically relevant territory, inhabited by the Marrucini, a brave and proud people. Fascinated by the beauty of the place and the courage of its inhabitants, Achilles founded a city there which he called Teate in honour of his mother Thetis, the sea nymph. The legend continues by narrating that, even though Achilles died during the Trojan War, his spirit remained tied to the city, like an invisible guardian who watches over the destiny of its inhabitants and their warrior strength. The Statute of the Municipality of Chieti describes the civic coat of arms, stating that it depicts Achilles on a rampant horse, armed with armour and with a shield and sword. On the shield, divided into four parts by a white cross, there are four golden keys that symbolise the ancient gates of the city."