| Pretoro | |
| Official Name: | Comune di Pretoro |
| Coordinates: | 42.2167°N 22°W |
| Province: | (CH) |
| Frazioni: | Colle Pagnotto, Passo Lanciano, Ponte |
| Mayor: | Sabrina Simone |
| Area Total Km2: | 26.13 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 948 |
| Population As Of: | 31 March 2018 |
| Population Demonym: | Pretoresi |
| Elevation M: | 560 |
| Day: | 6 May |
| Postal Code: | 66010 |
| Area Code: | 0871 |
Pretoro (locally Pretèure) is a town of about 1,100 inhabitants situated in Majella National Park, in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo, southern Italy. It is located on a steep hillside on the eastern side of the Maiella mountains. Its proximity to Passo Lanciano-La Majelletta ski area, guarantees the availability of winter sports, while the town is also only 20 minutes by car from the Adriatic Sea. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[2]
The area in which Pretoro is located has been occupied since prehistoric times; remains from that period have been found here, as well as inscriptions in Latin from the Roman era. The first documented mention of the town is in a 12th-century record. Pretoro's name may derive from the word "preta", an earlier form of the word "pietra" or stone. The town stands on a rocky landscape that does not lend itself to farming. Because the town is surrounded by beech-forest, the people of Pretoro have specialized over the centuries in woodcarving.
Pretoro is composed of a cluster of stone buildings which climb the steep mountainside; the oldest part of the town is at the highest point, while down below is a newer section.
The 13th century Sanctuary of the Madonna della Mazza is located a little above the town. This was a hermitage built by Benedictine and Cistercian monks from Santa Maria Arabona at Manoppello. A work of art is the 16th century sculpture of the Pietà preserved in the church of San Nicola.
Within the town's territory is a nature preserve, the Riserva Naturale Valle del Foro.