The origins of Cocullo are closely related to the Ancient Roman town of Koukoulon, situated between Cocullo village and Casale.[4]
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 procession covered with many snakes (mainly four-lined, aesculapian, grass and green whip snakes). The reptiles themselves are transported in procession by local serpari,[5] a sort of "snake breeders", and released in the surrounding woods at the end of the holiday.[6][7] 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.[8] This tradition, present also in coat of arms symbolism,[9] substituted the ancient Roman mythologic ritual of Angitia, a snake goddess worshipped by the Marsi.[10]
Photogallery
The main church of Our Lady of Graces (Santa Maria delle Grazie) in central Cocullo.
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