Cocullo is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. As of 2013 its population was 246.
Geography The village is situated in the Peligna Valley, between the towns of Avezzano and Sulmona. It is linked with them by the A25 motorway and the Rome-Pescara railway line.
It is a single civil parish (frazione), named Casale Casale webpage on municipal website and borders with the municipalities of Anversa degli Abruzzi, Bugnara, Castel di Ieri, Castelvecchio Subequo, Goriano Sicoli, Ortona dei Marsi and Prezza.
History The origins of Cocullo are closely related to the Ancient Roman town of Koukoulon, situated between Cocullo village and Casale. History of Cocullo
Snake Festival (Feast of San Domenico) Cocullo is known for its singular patron saint's holiday, named Festa dei Serpari, in which the patron saint's statue (Domenico di Sora) is transported in a procession covered with many snakes (mainly four-lined, aesculapian, grass and green whip snakes). The reptiles are draped onto the statue before the procession by local serpari,The word is composed by the word serpe -or serpente-, Italian for snake villagers trained and authorized to capture wild snakes, who then release them in the same location where they have been found after the holiday. Infos about the holiday on municipal website Cocullo Snake Festival on www.lifeinabruzzo.com The festival, set every first of May since 2012 (in the past it took place every first Thursday in May), is a receptive event for thousands of Italian and foreign visitors. In 2009 it was cancelled due to some structural damages occurred into the village after the L'Aquila earthquake.Article on Sky News This tradition, present also in coat of arms symbolism,Image of the coat of arms of Cocullo on it.wiki substituted the ancient Roman mythologic ritual of Angitia, a snake goddess worshipped by the Marsi.A Guide to the Region Abruzzo
Gallery
Notes and references
External links
Cocullo official website Videos and photos of the snake festival and procession in Cocullo Feast of San Domenico Italiansrus.com