Stories of bandits

The rebellious tradition of the Tordino Valley and Cortino has ancient roots dating back to 89 B.C., when the city of Asculum was destroyed, and the survivors found refuge in the woods of the Laga Mountains. During the Middle Ages, due to widespread poverty, the phenomenon of banditry became so widespread that Pope Sixtus V sent thousands of soldiers to curb it through repression and "diplomacy," pardoning over 600 bandits who were willing to fight voluntarily against the Turks. The modern era of banditry on the Laga Mountains began in the late 18th century when peasants and mountain dwellers bloodily rose up against the French invaders.

Among the brigand leaders active in this area, the fascinating figure of Donato De Donatis, a priest from Pezzelle, a fraction of Cortino, stands out for his brutal raids, who did not fail to ally himself with other brigands who also plagued the community, such as Giuseppe Costantini, known as Sciabolone. The phenomenon of banditry, a frequent scene in the municipal territory, lasted several centuries and significantly limited the area's development possibilities. The historically most notable periods were, besides the French period, the end of the 16th century with Marco Sciarra playing a leading role, the end of the 17th century with the historic defeat by the hands of the Viceroy Del Carpio, and during the period of Italian unification.