tatùle, in Roman times, was an important mansio
as the archeological finds of the district with the same name suggest: many remains of
walls (which are still very clear), numerous epigraphical fragments, coins, hydrii,
statues of worship, clay vases, oil lamps, several weapons, etc. Around the Regio
Tratturo, along the outline of the Via Claudia Valeria, about twenty wine cellars were
found, as well as remains of walls and floors, great amounts of earthenware, brick
fragments, crematorium and in addition, a burial tomb with
ceramics, the point of a spear made of iron, a large barrel with a large number of
earthenware weaving weights.
The
"Salcone" district is also rich in archeological finds: a conspicuous number of
tiled tombs, which suggest that the necropolis of the nearby Statùle was probably
situated here. The remains of a wine cellar, two amphoras and many fragments of ceramics
have been found in the locality of "Neviera", remains of a roman aqueduct in
"Valle Orsa", probably a branch of the biggest aqueduct of the Valle Orfecchia,
remains of walls and an antique well in "Rio Scuro", traces of a road cut into
the rock at "San Donato". In the district "Costa dei Saraceni" a
limestone milestone was found in 1897 with the inscription: "XV" (90) belonging
to the road, Valeria Claudia, a road which was restored in the IV century A.D.Worthy of mention is the discovery of a small italic necropolis with remains of fortress walls on Mount Castelluccio, as well as the interesting discovery of a group of bronze objects (fibulas, rings, pendants) belonging to the end of the bronze age, now partly on display at the Pigorini Museum in Rome and partly in the Prehistoric Museum of Central Italy, "G.Bellucci" in Perugia.
In the locality of "La Staturia" workers of the Archeological Superintendence of Chieti found perimetral walls of a Roman-age sanctuary in 1992 as well as cobbled paving and the base of a pilaster, fibulas, several pieces of fine ceramic tableware and remains of tiles. In conclusion, in the locality "Ara Squadrata" the remains of a probable small temple in opus incertum.
Just when this important mansio was destroyed, remains unknown. We can presume nevertheless that this ancient settlement of Statùle, just as that of the entire Superequan colony, was first devastated by Shiites commanded by Dadaulfo, and later by theVandals of Genserico.
The first inhabited nucleus of the present day settlement must have formed between the two centuries. From indirect documents we learn that during the application of political-economic Longobard rules the population of Statùle was divided into twelve noble or military groups (tribes), villages with the citadel of Goriano Siculi as the head town.
In 1000 the Castle of Goriano belongs to the Berardi family. The castle which was dependent on the County of the Marsi, occupied the hilltop on which the town sits. It was protected by the characteristic balwark and double wall with slits. It was reached by passing through three doors: the Bagliucci door, the Baracca and the Murro doors, which had rolling shutters
and shooting holes. This manor-house, which today is used as a parochial church, was very important for the region because it offered powerful defense. In 1400, the Murro door, (whose ogival arch originally must have been a rounded arch just like that of Bagliucci and Baracca) has a damaged marble plate held by two female figures and reflects the fragmented shape of a lion in saddle-cloth of uncertain heraldic attribution
In 1145 from the Catalogue of Barons compiled during the reign of Guglielmo II Normanno, we learn that "Goriano Secco in Valva was the property of Rinaldo the Count of Celano".
In 1269 after the fall of Corradino of Svevia in Tagliacozzo and his disgraceful decapitation in the market square in Naples, the County of Celano passed over to Carlo D’Angiò as well as the estate of Goriano Secco.
In1304 the religious man Jacobo de’ Paolucci of Goriano, by way of the January 11 Seal, was given permission by Pope Benedetto XI, to erect a monastery for the Clarisse order which was built near the Church of St. Donato, in Goriano Sicoli. Today, all that remains of the convent and church are the few ruins near the sanctuary of St.Gemma.
In 1332 the feudatory of Goriano Sicoli is Ruggero IV of the counts of Celano who was involved in the legendary history of St. Gemma.
In 1474 at public expense, the Captain of the Valle Subequana Danesio Conazzi of Sessa, on finding a water source, has an aqueduct and a fountain built in Goriano Sicoli ( in the exact place where the actual one now stands), and has sculptured on it, (as can be deduced from the epigraph walled into the bastion) a memorial in honour of Antonio dAragona Piccolomini, the duke of Amalfi and Count of Celano, the great executioner of the kingdom and as it is understood, the owner of that land.
In 1505 Antonio Piccolomini dies and Costanza d’Aragona Piccolomini, the Duchess of Amalfi comes into possession of his estate.
In 1527 during the construction of the parochial church, the Gentile family was given an aristocratic altar, ( that of the actual Sacro Cuore) by ecclesiastical authority. The Gentili were invested with the estate of Goriano by the Piccolomini from the XV century.
1593 is the year in which the parochial church of Santa Maria Nuova was founded: a latin cross temple with three naves. Here some valuable stucco works of art can be admired, as well as a richwalnut pulpit sculptured by Bernardino Mosca of Pescocostanzo and a large cross decorated with historical scenes depicting Christ dying, dating back to 1400. The frontal piece on the facade of the church features a splendid romanic rose window and above it , the face of a weight-clock: on the spur is a kind of rostrum with the head of a lion on by the castle ruins.
In 1613 the Church of St.Gemma was constructed on top of a little church. It was built with a
nave
and curved absidiole. The facade was redone between the years 1600 and 1800. Inside, in
the absidiole part of the church, a series of frescos representing scenes from the life of
S. Gemma and an interesting canvas painting depicting St. Anthony of Padua painted by the
artist Teofilo Patini. In 1633 the owner of the land of Goriano is the Prince of Gallicano, Pompeo Colonna.
In 1661 Goriano Sicoli is no longer property of the Prince of Gallicano and becomes royal property.
In 1662 the owner of the land of Goriano is Maffeo Barberini, the prince of Palestrina.
In I669 Goriano Sicoli is the estate of Captain Domenicantonio De Santis.
For the entire 1700-1800's period wool and silk industries flourished. Wool merchants of Goriano were involved in commerce between wool merchants of Florence, and silk commerce flourished with that of Venice. What must not be forgotten is also the riches deriving from valuable marble, travertine and from the incomparable pozzolana of the caves of Paolucci House, and in conclusion, the excellent grain production. This point in history was when the Sulmona -Rome railway line was built and at the same time when the public fountain was built: an architectural wonder, with elegant lines and double row of lateral columns with eight arches each.
In 1818 the new latin cross church dedicated to St.Gemma is completed.
On October 28, 1888 the fountain was inaugurated as the two commemorative epigraphs on the front of the fountain illustration. They are carved in marble slabs and above one is the aristocratic coat-of-arms of the Paolucci family, and on the other, the municipal coat-of-arms.