This ancient town, is rich in art, history and events for the visitors.
Recent archaeological searches have discovered the presence of a Neolithic site and the last diggings, executed in the Ancient Center, have brought to light the rests of the city of Anxanum, one of the most ancient village of Abruzzo, datable to the XII century a.C.
The city of Lanciano was founded from Solima, also founder of Sulmona, and a Enea's companion, which in honor of his fellow Anxa, founded the city calling it Anxanon or Anxia. The city was dominated from various people: Etruscans, Galliums and subsequently from Roman, that definitively conquered it in the 435 a.C. The Romans made it a municipium for its strategic geographic position, for which it was an important economic center. Lanciano is also a special religious destination for its famous Eucharistic Miracle.
Since twelve centuries, at Lanciano, is conserved the first and the most important Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church.
This prodigy is happened towards the half of VIII century d.C., in the church of Saint Legonziano, for a monk's doubt on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. During the celebration of the Saint Mass, the consecrated host became Meat and the wine was changed in alive Blood, coagulating in five irregular and various globules for shape and largeness. The relics of the Miracle are conserved in the church of Saint Francisco, risen in XI century. The Meat is conserved from the 1713 in an artistic Ostensory of silver, fine chisen, in Neapolitan school and the Blood is contained in a rich and ancient crystal ampoule of Rocca. These relics have been analyzed many times from authoritative scientists. The last examinations was in 1970: shortly, it has proved that the consecrated host is true human meat (myocardium's woven) and also the blood is true human blood, belong to group AB. But the more amazing data, that the science has not succeeded to explain, is the perfect conservation of the meat and the blood after twelve centuries of exposure to the open air.
Places and monuments to see:
- The ancient, majestic city walls (XI century)
- Church of Santa Maria Maggiore: One of the most important churches in Abruzzo, it was built in the XII century. The magnificient main facade (there's a second, older one on the left side) belongs to the XIV century and is enriched by a masterly cruxifixion by sculptor Francesco Petrini in the lunette and a sumptous rosewindow above the Romanesque-Gothic portal.
- Church of Sant'Agostino (XIV century), with a fine bell-tower and precious interior
- Church of San Nicola, with a chapel containing a fine cycle of XIV century fresco
- Church of San Francesco, where the Eucharistic Miracle is preserved, near central Piazza Plebiscito, with the Townhall and XVII-century bell-tower, near the neoclassical Cathedral
Events and Festivities
- Holy Week: on Friday, Procession on Christ's Death; on Sunday and Tuesday, representation of Christ's meeting with its Mother and with John.
- April: National Agriculture Fair
- 31 August: St. Egidio's Fair
- 1st weekend in September: Palio delle contrade and, on the following day, Sfilata del Mastrogiurato, a historical reenactment in costume
- 8 September: "Il dono", procession of people in traditional rustic costumes bringing offerings to the Madonna del Ponte
- 14-16 September: Feast of the Madonna del Ponte and horseraces