| John of Capistrano began building the monastery in 1447 on a site donated to Countess Cobella Celano. The document preserved in the reliquary of the saint, is dated 1st
December 1447. The site was chosen near the "Palombara" where,acording to legend, stood the old castle,founded by Desiderius. In principle, the convent was very small.
In 1456 there was already a library for watching over the books and manuscripts of the Holy,after death were reported in the convent of Capistrano.
In subsequent years, with the flourishing of new vocations to honor the memory of the saint, the convent was enlarged. A new building, begun in 1709.
The last wing of the convent, built in 1853, is that overlooks the cemetery on today.
The library had more than 4,000 pieces of books and manuscripts was the largest
Franciscan Order in Abruzzo. The most of the manuscripts was hijacked to the National Library of Naples as part of books was transferred to the provincial library
Aquila. In 1977 the square was enlarged in front of the church and its center was placed the statue of St. John with the cross victorious in his right hand.
From 1993 to 1997 the property underwent to a major restoration. |