It is a village of ancient origins, the country, in fact, still retains the appearance of a small medieval village dominated by the ducal castle.

The municipality of Crecchio is included in the hilly area that extends from the Adriatic coast to the limit of the foothills of Maiella. In the north-western part the territory is crossed by the river Arielli and the river Rifago that, in their course, have delimited and isolated the hill on which stands the old town.

In the eastern part the land slopes gently towards the Moro valley. There are some flat areas, in particular near the Provincial Road (ex SS 538) "Marrucina" (Pietra Lata, Casone and Macchie), in the areas of Fonte Roberto and Ciaò (between Villa Mascitti and Casino Vezzani), near Villa Tucci (Marshes, Pozzo and Capo Lemare) and Santa Maria Cardetola[4]. The slope gradually decreases from SW to NE. The altimetry varies from a minimum of 86 m above sea level, measured in the Arielli valley in Piano di Morrecine (in the northern part of the municipality), to a maximum of 276 m above sea level, recorded near the old railway station (on the border with the municipality of Arielli). The municipal house is located at 209 m s.l.m. 

Tradition has it that in ancient times the inhabitants of Crecchio were settled in the hamlet of Santa Maria Cardetola, a short distance from the current town. Sporadic finds, including that of a mother goddess referable to the upper Paleolithic, fragments of obsidian and worked flints, confirm the presence of man on the hills of Crecchio since prehistoric times. In 1846 the scholar and archaeologist Lanciano A. Carabba, who was found in Santa Maria in Cardetola, found in Santa Maria in Cardetola, Italy. In the 9th century B.C. an Italic epigraph of the sixth century B.C. (preserved in the National Museum of Naples) in which - according to recent interpretations - there is the first reference to Crecchio, called in archaic times Ok(r)ikam[13][15]; the discovery of some grave goods of Frentana origin suggests that the village was their stronghold guarding the border with the Marrucini or the sheep tracks that passed nearby. Having become a Roman town hall, the name was transformed into Ocriculum, and the entire territory was divided into large rustic villas (farms) dedicated to the cultivation of cereals, vines and olive trees.

The current hamlets and districts are located right next to those villas[13]. Of the ancient settlements remain today only the remains of the Villa of Vassarella-Casino Vezzani, brought to light during the excavations carried out between 1988 and 1991 by the Archaeological Superintendence of Abruzzo, in collaboration with the Archeoclub of Italy Crecchio[13][16]. The villas remained active until the VI-VII century A.D. exporting wine and oil thanks to the nearby port of Ortona[13][17]. After the devastation of the Greco-Gothic War (535-553 AD), many villages were abandoned and the inhabitants settled on the hill where the current old town stands. In an era of invasions and raids it was the best defensible place, thanks to the two deep valleys of Arielli and Rifago. According to tradition, the site already housed a pagan temple (the site of Santa Maria da Piedi) and a Roman fort. From the Lombards to the Normans.

The town fell into Lombard hands probably around the end of the seventh century A.D. and followed the historical events of the Duchy of Spoleto, passing first into the hands of the Franks and then into those of the Normans[13][15]. In the eleventh century the new settlement was still without walls: this is confirmed by the bull of Pope Nicholas II, of 1059, where it refers to a "Plebem Occrecle", but without the qualification of Castellum[18]. During the Norman domination the defensive apparatus of the village was improved with the construction of walls, along which two large gates opened, called Da Capo (southern entrance near the Castle) and Da Piedi (in the north-eastern part of the country)the latter still visible today. In 1189-92 Guglielmo Monaco, belonging to the noble Monaco family of Crecchio, participated in the Third Crusade. At the beginning of the twelfth century the imposing Torre dell'Ulivo was erected and, around it, over the following years the entire castle was formed. The tower was part of a complex and branched system of sighting posts that from the sea touched all inland centers and watched over the terrible raids of Hungarian and Saracen pirates. From the Angevins to the Aragonese In 1279 the fief of Crecchio was included in the "Review of the feudal lords of Abruzzo" wanted by Charles I of Anjou: from the latter it emerges that the feud with the castle was under the jurisdiction of Guglielmo Morello. This fief called "di un Milite" was formed not only by Crecchio, but also by Arielli with his castle (completely destroyed at the beginning of the twentieth century), Castel di Mucchia and half of the fief of Pizzo Inferiore (in the municipality of Ortona).

In the fourteenth century the village was enriched with some palaces including the Monaco Palace, with a stately tower[13]. Napoleon Orsini, who owned Crecchio in '400 In 1406 Crecchio was a fief of Napoleon Orsini Count of Manoppello and Guardiagrele. These, rebelled at the court of Naples, was deprived of the fief that was donated to the community of Lanciano by King Ladislao[13]. On 23 August 1406 Giovanni Di Masio, Mastrogiurato of Lanciano, entered the "fortress and the Tower of Ocrecchio"[18]. The possession by Lanciano represented for Crecchio the opportunity to easily sell the wheat that was produced in the territory, since Lanciano, with its fairs, was an important point of passage for merchants returning from Venice[18]. Crecchio fief of the dukes of Bovino In 1627 Crecchio passed to Giovanni Bonanni dell'Aquila, who in 1633 sold it to Andrea Brancaccio of Naples[13]On the occasion of this sale a certain Scipione Paternò "tabulario napolitano" was called to estimate the value of the feud, which gives a very clear image of the village in the seventeenth century[19]:

«'For a distance of five miles in the town of Lanciano it has another castle called Crecchio di fuochi[20] 150 which lies in a sweet and fruity mountain ridge between two deep valleys called Lariella[21] and lo Rofare[22], both watered, one of which runs for ordinary et tiene magior strength to be living water, and just that of Riella which speaking I refer to V.S. that in its course are placed seven mills[23] per row with proportionate distance [...]. And returning to the body of that land I remind V.S. as he said to see that his site is flat, and in that he enters through two doors, one called de Capo et l'altra de Piedi for which intrando si discorre et camina per diverse strade tutta la sua casa, and from all sides you can enjoy the view of the sea as accompanied by the site and its view of the mountains[24], it makes perfect air as you are bordering from the many old and their health, fertility of women and vivacity of children, And though this land be placed in the end of this mount, and it is well guarded and safe to be surrounded by two high and deep valleys conforming it has been said, Thus, the first habitators of the former habitators do not restrict their family with walls which to this part are raised and pointed. The territory of this land is part flat and part hilly and expensive, which borders the territory of Ariella, Canosa, Tollo, Urtona la Villa Callara et il fiume Moro dividing the territory of Frisa which circuit of territory so described will be from nine miles in about which include territorij seminatorj, grasseggi, vineyards, woods, olive groves, cannittera, vegetable gardens and other fruits from which are perceived good quality grains, orgi, legumes, wines, he, lini [...].

The habitants of this land are to general homini rustici foresi et fatigatori, which they practice in the culture and government of alien territories and propij [...]. The habitual women keep themselves in spinning and weaving canvas[25] and in the time of sugna et vendemmia they lead out to trouble their lives according to the seasons and times.

Contiguous is the earth from a crossbow shot is a perfect source of water[26] with factory preserves where water is taken for drinking, but to use the wash go into the valley. It stands and governs this predicted land by two mayors and a mastrogiurato from which together take account of good governance and land administration [...]. Et in the middle of the predicted land is the public square in the middle of which is founded the matrix church under the name of Holy Saviour where two priests are inclusive with the archpriest [...].

There is also another church called "Santa Maria di Piedi" enclosed the walls of the land where it is celebrated and lives with alms.» (Scipione Paternò, 1633) The Brancaccio family kept possession of Crecchio until 1702. On 15 October 1705 the fief was bought by Gaetano Antonio D'Ambrosio, Prince of Marzano. The sale, however, was invalid and the feud was then assigned to Vincenzo Frasconi, named Marquis of Crecchio. The D'Ambrosio returned to possession of the feud on 11 August 1734, keeping it until 1785, when it passed to the De Riseis, dukes of Bovino and barons of Crecchio. The latter kept the assets related to it until 15 November 1958[18]. Crecchio in the modern era After the unification of Italy, Crecchio was included in the province of Chieti, former Principality of Abruzzo Citeriore, in the district of Ortona.

In the years 1870-1879 the new provincial road to Canosa was built and the door from Capo was demolished with the rest of the walls[13]. A passionate description of the country is provided by Don Ermenegildo Blasioli, Reverend pastor of Crecchio, that in the novena of Saint Elizabeth protector of Crecchio, dated 1901, so wrote[13]: Giovanni De Riseis, Duke of Bovino and Baron of Crecchio

««Those who look at the Abruzzese Teatina region in that slight slope, which stretches from the majestic Majella to the sea, remain ecstatic, rimirandolo jagged by hills and hills, covered with lush vineyards, green olive trees, fruit trees of all kinds; with streams and streams that, furrowing this land de' Frentani, forming picturesque shady valleys, waves in the ecstasy of contemplation the viewer exclaims Oh! wonderful panorama or lucky land, where God has lavished the goods of nature! In the middle of this slope between the mountain and the sea, on the edge of a hill, bordered by two streams, the Rifago to the east and the Arielli to the west, there is a small, but delightful village named Crecchio, in Latin Oppidum Ocreclii, and formerly called with the nickname Granaio di Lanciano. The antiquity of the village is attested by some stone slabs on the door lintels, with inscriptions and dates of the years 863, 1110 and 1263. They are notable of mention; the bell tower of the Parish Church of San Salvatore of style of the sixteenth century, and the palace of Baron De Riseis with crenellated towers of medieval style. In the surrounding hills you can see ruins of houses destroyed by the invasion of the barbarians, remaining a small remnant of many ruins this country, which was once well fortified with walls.» (Don Ermenegildo Blasioli, 1901) The flight of Vittorio Emanuele III to Crecchio (9 September 1943) Vittorio Emanuele III, housed in the castle of Crecchio during the flight to Brindisi On 9 September 1943, Crecchio and the castle were the scene of important events in the history of Italy: in their escape towards Brindisi, King Vittorio Emanuele III, the Queen, Prince Umberto, Badoglio and the entire General Staff stopped in the castle.

Here the fate of the Savoy Monarchy was decided[13]. Prince Umberto had previously been a guest of Duke Giovanni De Riseis and his wife Maria Antonietta d'Alife Gaetani d'Aragona, in Crecchio, in the years 1926, 1928 and in 1932 with Maria Josè[16]. From the winter of 1943 to the summer of 1944, Crecchio, being on the Gustav line, suffered the devastation of the bombing: the Church of San Rocco at the entrance of the village was razed (and never rebuilt), the castle and the Olive Tower seriously damaged, the eighteenth-century facade of the church of San Salvatore semi-destroyed as well as many houses.