TERAMO

city, capital of Teramo provincia, Abruzzi regione, central Italy. It lies at the confluence of the Tordino and Vezzola rivers, between the Adriatic Sea and the Gran Sasso d'Italia mountain group, northwest of Pescara. Teramo was built on the site of Interamna (Interamnia), a town of the ancient Praetuttii tribe, and was destroyed during the barbarian invasions. It was rebuilt in the 12th century and later passed to the Kingdom of Naples. Notable monuments in Teramo include the 12th- and 14th-century cathedral with a Gothic bell tower (1483), the remains of the Roman theatre, and the civic museum. There is an astronomical observatory just outside the city. Teramo is an agricultural centre, and its manufactures include woolen textiles, furniture, and ceramics. Pop. (1990 est.) mun., 52,501.