RAIANO


Its geographic location makes Raiano a joint place of several preserved areas which characterise a territory usually known as "Central Abruzzi". The major historic and artistic works are made of and held in buildings destined to worship
In the inner centre of the old village, the little St. Antonio Abate's church (which was built in 1004) preserves the valuable statue of the Saint bearing the same name. However, the oldest church in Raiano is the rural Our Lady of Contra's where the basrelief of Pavoni which has been put in the altar of St. Maria Maggiore's comes from.
The hermitage of St. Venanzio is also very important and it is actually the main centre to worship the Saint patron. The hermitage is located in a wild, wonderful environment characterised by overhanging rocks, lush vegetation and noisy, foaming waters and it rises on the narrowest point of the valley having the same name.
Over the last years, Raiano has turned from rural centre into a manufacturing area where some firms have settled making it an artisan, industrial town. In this framework, the local craftmanship is also going through a new phase whose prospects are linked to the innovations that these middle-size firms will introduce. Trade in Raiano will be a strategic section for the next few years when the town will start its change to "tourist thermal centre".