Historical Background: Pretoro rises on the northern slopes of the Majella massifs, in the spring area of the river Forum, whose houses are nestled one closet o the other covering the side of the mountain. Its territory stretches for 26,07 square kilometres, with its ski-resort area Passolanciano-La Majelletta, one of the best in central Italy. Archaeological findings belonging to the Roman age bear witness to an important ancient settlement. The first documents date back to the 12th century. During the 15th century it was a feud of the Orsini family, in the 16th century a property of Bartolomeo d’Alviano, then of the Colonna from Rome, Cantelmi and Accrocciamura. Some ruins of the past are preserved such as the castle, the sanctuary of Madonna della maza of the 13th century, and a statue depicting a Pietà of the 16th century in the church of St. Nicola.