Piazza del Commercio and its fountain

Piazza del Commercio is the best-known public square in Controguerra, so much so that it already characterized the town in the first postcards given to the press. Characteristic of the square are the Palazzo Plebani-Cataldi-Barcaroli and the arch of Porta Maggiore (or dell'Angelo). Until 1978, the complex of Palazzo Flajani, which no longer exists, completed the architecture of the square in an ideal embrace. More recent elements of Piazza del Commercio are the new town hall, with its evocative belvedere, and the statue of the Madonnina, located at the entrance to Via Guglielmo Marconi and Stradale della Madonna delle Grazie.

The fountain in Piazza del Commercio deserves further study, which came into operation between the end of 1904 and the beginning of 1905, bringing water to the town. The structure that can be admired today is not the original, as the first fountain was demolished around the mid-1950s, to widen the square, and was replaced by a more modern fountain. In 2001 the municipal administration of the town decided to return the first fountain to Controguerra and, therefore, the fountain from the 1950s was demolished and, in its place, the current structure was installed, which was built following the projects of the fountain older, preserved in the local Municipal Historical Archive, but with some innovations: it is located a few meters further to the South-East, it is larger, while respecting the original proportions, and is softened by two side masks.

From the clearing of the fountain it is possible to enjoy a fascinating panoramic glimpse of the Val Vibrata, and admire the Contrada of Controguerra which in ancient times was known as Valle Paradiso, or Valle Giardino (name that remained in some areas), due to the prosperity of the crops and the lush nature. On clear days it is possible to see, in addition to the Monti Gemelli and the Gran Sasso massif, also the Maiella. The view is truly amazing, embracing the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea from east to west.