Chieti
Of ancient origin, the town of Chieti, once known as Teate in honour of the goddess Thetis (mother of the legendary founder, Achilles), received the title of Royal City and the capital of the Abruzzi by King Alfonso V of Aragon (1394-1458) in 1443. Chieti, that for centuries has been the most important centre of the region, saw his face change dramatically in the Baroque period, especially for what concerns the religious buildings constructed according to the dictates of the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano (or Valignani, 1539-1606) and the economist Ferdinando Galiani (1728-1787) were born in Chieti.