Via Annunziata

The road is named after the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation, which stood on the banks of the Forca d'Acero stream. The building, which is 4.75 meters long and about 5 meters wide, was destroyed by the catastrophic flood of September 28, 1798, preceded by thunder and lightning "from opinion the Last Judgment."

The flood destroyed the entire area, known as Contrada La Nunziata, leaving one hundred and twelve people homeless. The same fate befell the nearby home of the Cellucci family in Capo La Terra (today Piazza Pasquale Tempesta), which "floated for some time, like Noah's ark, and then broke up and disappeared among the waters." The water reached a height of 4 meters and extended, in width, for more than 44 meters.

This is Abbot Coletta's report in the 1798 Book of the Dead: "After three months of drought, it finally rained for three days. On the night of September 28, such a quantity of water fell that it seemed like a deluge, with thunder and lightning that made one think of doomsday. The flood that followed devastated the town, with the water reaching a height of 16 palms and a width of 168."

Until 1848 there were the ruins of the altar base and traces of a fresco depicting the Holy Annunciation. Having found some silver coins at the site, word spread that there was hidden treasure: people from all over the country flocked to the site and began digging. To restore public order, the then mayor Nicola Gatti called in the National Guard.

The tragic flood caused significant damage to the area and the entire community, deeply marking the history of the town. Today, Via Annunziata is one of the symbols in which the memory of the power of nature and the ability of the inhabitants of San Donato to overcome all difficulties lives on.