L'Aquila (Aquila until 1863 and Aquila degli Abruzzi until 1939)
is an Italian town of 69,966 inhabitants, capital of the province of
the same name and of the Abruzzo region. It is located in the center
of the Aquila basin, along the Aterno river and on the slopes of the
Gran Sasso.
The city was founded in 1254 as an anti-feudal
function by 99 castles, small urban agglomerations born following
the fall of the Western Roman Empire, which federated to build a
large city. Later destroyed by Manfredi of Sicily, in 1266 Aquila
was rebuilt as a free municipality with Charles I of Anjou.
Amiternum and Forcona were the two cities formerly present in the
surroundings of the current capital which, following the foundation
of Aquila, lost importance and decayed.
Part of the Kingdom
of Naples and the capital first of the further Abruzzo and then of
the further second Abruzzo, in the fifteenth century, thanks to its
economy, Aquila became the second most important city of the state,
immediately after Naples. Under the Habsburg rule, between the 16th
and 17th centuries, the city experienced a period of fluctuating
economic growth which was however abruptly interrupted by the
catastrophic earthquake of 1703, which for many years brought the
city back into decline. In fact, it experienced a new economic and
cultural development only in the nineteenth century.
Despite
the strong earthquakes of 1315, 1461, 1703 and 2009, in the city
there is still a large historical heritage that shows a medieval
layer testified above all by the walls, a Renaissance one that
characterizes numerous palaces and churches and finally a baroque
and neoclassical due to the eighteenth-century post-earthquake
reconstruction
L'Aquila is home to an annual jubilee, the
Celestinian Perdonanza, established by Pope Celestine V in 1294
through his papal bull Inter sanctorum solemnia and UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2019.
The city expands throughout the basin and especially along the main
roads that go from west to east. At the center of the basin, on a hill,
is the historic center which is lapped to the south by the Aterno river.
Old Town. The portion of the city enclosed within the walls is the
historic center of L'Aquila, the oldest and most important part of the
city. The center is divided by two main axes which intersect at the
crossroads popularly known as the four cantons and is characterized by
the alternation of numerous squares, each distinguished by a church and
a fountain. This part of the city suffered severe damage from the 2009
earthquake and many areas are closed to the public for safety reasons.
Collemaggio, famous for the presence of the homonymous basilica, is
generally considered part of the historic centre, despite being outside
the city walls.
Neighborhoods
Tower. The Torrione is one of
the most populous districts of the city and is located in the immediate
northern periphery, a short distance from the Luminous Fountain,
entrance to the historic centre. Its name derives from the remains of an
aqueduct of Roman origin (the tower) located within the district.
Due to the numerous earthquakes that have occurred since the founding of the city, many of L'Aquila's monuments are stratified into three styles: medieval, Renaissance and Baroque.
There are over 60 churches in the historic center that are still
active, an indication of the large number of churches that the city
housed in the past, some of which were destroyed by earthquakes or in
the city's master plan of the 1930s. The main churches present here are
the three basilicas (San Bernardino, Collemaggio and San Giuseppe
Artigiano), the Cathedral of Santi Massimo and Giorgio, the four
capoquarto churches (Santa Giusta, Santa Maria Paganica, San Marciano
and San Pietro a Coppito), and the churches of San Domenico, San
Silvestro and Anime Sante.
Also in the hamlets there are various
religious buildings, including the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Appari in
Paganica, the church and convent of San Giuliano in the district of the
same name, the churches of San Michele Arcangelo in San Vittorino, of
Santa Giusta outside the walls in Bazzano, of San Franco in Assergi and
the sanctuary of San Pietro della Ienca. The latter, robust and compact,
built in stone and with a rectangular plan with a single nave, is famous
for a pastoral visit by Pope John Paul II. The church has a facade
preceded by a small garden with a stone fountain for watering the sheep,
and with a bronze statue of St. John Paul II.
The main buildings of the city are Palazzo Margherita with the civic
tower, seat of the town hall, Palazzo dell'Esposizioni, seat of the
regional council, Palazzo Centi, seat of the presidency of the Region,
Palazzo Ardinghelli, seat of the MAXXI L'Aquila, Palazzo Fibbioni, seat
of the town hall, Palazzo del Convitto, seat of the Salvatore Tommasi
Library and of the boarding school, Palazzo Silone, seat of the regional
council, the former slaughterhouse, temporary seat of the National
Museum of Abruzzo, Palazzo Cappa Cappelli, Palazzo Carli Benedetti,
Palazzo Pica Alfieri , Government Palace, Palazzetto dei Nobili and
Palazzo Farinosi Branconi.
In the city there are also the
Cancelle, structures located in via Simeonibus, reassembled in the 1930s
in their current position, since they were previously located next to
the Cathedral. They are particular pointed arches linked together,
dating back to the 15th century, inserted at the base of a Renaissance
palace. An ancient fish market, it has been in a state of neglect since
1830, after the visit of King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1796, where
various projects were opted for to move the fish lodges to the historic
city.
In L'Aquila there are several fountains; the main one is
the fountain of the 99 spouts, located in Borgo Rivera. Other worthy of
note are the Luminous Fountain, near the Castle, the Old Fountain, or
the pair of fountains located in Piazza Duomo, and the Fountain of
Neptune, in Piazza Regina Margherita.
The mountain refuges
located in the municipal area are:
Duca degli Abruzzi refuge (2338 m)
on Monte Portella;
Giuseppe Garibaldi refuge (2230 m) in the Campo
Pericoli basin;
Andrea Bafile Gold Medal Bivouac (2669 m) on the
southern slope of Corno Grande;
Fontari Refuge: located in Campo
Imperatore, above "le Fontari";
Antonella Panepucci Alessandri refuge
(1700 m) on Monte San Franco.
The main military architectures of the city are the Spanish Fort (or sixteenth-century castle), located in the quarter of Santa Maria north of the historic centre, formed by a square-plan structure with four corner bastions and built to a design by Pedro Luis Escrivá, the Tower, part of a Roman tomb from the 1st century, or a pillar of an ancient medieval aqueduct from the 13th century and damaged by the 2009 earthquake, which brought down 5 of its 15 meters in height, and the walls, that surrounds the city center and has been remodeled several times with the addition of gates, the movement of some sections (as in the 16th century to make room for the Spanish Fort) and the demolition of others (in the 20th century with the creation of the area of the sports facilities and the Eritrea District).
News of the city's fortifications comes after the reconstruction of
the city in 1265, financed by Charles I of Anjou, since the previous
Swabian city founded in 1254 had been destroyed by Manfredi of Sicily in
1259. The wall complex was very imposing and protected, as the
historians Buccio di Ranallo and Anton Ludovico Antinori (18th century)
also report in the Annals of L'Aquila, where he says that at the time of
the 1703 earthquake, the city which was equipped with 86 towers and 12
gates, due to various problems and the loss of importance of many
entrances, the main entrances were reduced to four: Porta Bazzano, Porta
Romana, Porta Napoli and Porta Santa Maria or Castello.
However, as
demonstrated by the extended plan of the city of 1575, the work of
Girolamo Pico Fonticulano, L'Aquila was equipped with a truly vast city
wall, which extended well beyond the land colonized by the houses, to
allow the cultivation of fields within the control of the towers, as
demonstrated by the feuds of Campo di Fossa, Largo Castello and
Porcinaro. The gates had been founded in correspondence with the various
"locals" of colonization, since the city was built by the merchants and
craftsmen of the castles that arise around the basin in the Aterno
valley, such as Paganica, Bazzano, Roio, Arischia, Lucoli, Assergi, and
each castellan during the construction of the city was entrusted with a
place in which to build farmhouses, palaces and churches, hence the
legend of the 99 castles with 99 squares, 99 churches, 99 palaces,
symbolized by the masks of the fountain of the 99 spouts, in the
southern part of the city.
Therefore, based on the major castles that founded the city,
subsequently divided into four districts in 1276 (Santa Maria, San
Pietro, San Giorgio, San Giovanni), the scarp bases of the control
towers still exist today, except for some demolished wall sections with
access doors, but by following the map of Fonticulano you can better
orient yourself on the ancient wall structure. From the north-west,
where the Spanish Castle is located, stood Porta Santa Maria, i.e. the
current entrance, from the Luminous Fountain by D'Antino (1934), in
Corso Vittorio Emanuele between Palazzo Leone and Palazzo del
Combattente, then continuing east , clockwise, there are Porta Castello,
Porta Leoni (documented in 1316 for a restoration by the current captain
of the city), Porta Bazzano, Porta Tione, to the south-west, continuing
down: Porta di Bagno, Porta Roiana , Porta Rivera, at the beginning of
the 19th century, on the occasion of the visit of Ferdinand II of the
Two Sicilies, Porta Napoli was built, in the extreme southern part of
viale Crispi, continuing from the Fountain of the 99 spouts with Porta
Rivera there are Porta Stazione or Poggio Santa Maria, Porta Romana
(between this and Porta Barete it is assumed that a certain Porta Pilese
existed), then the bastion of the monumental Porta Barete, corresponding
along the decumanus maximus with Porta Bazzano, and return to the
north-west towards the castle, Porta San Lo renzo and Porta Branconio.
Following the current perimeter, the walls embrace, always starting
from the castle in a clockwise direction, via Castello, via Zara, via
Luigi Signorini Corsi (where they run alongside the Christian Doctrine
Institute), via Francesco del Greco (where Porta Leoni is located), via
inValidi di Guerra (where the modern Costanzo Ciano district is
located), via Barbara Micarelli, which leads into via Fortebraccio,
which is accessed through Porta Bazzano, then Costa Picenze with Porta
Tione, viale Luigi Rendina, which includes an area where the walls are
semi-obscured by the modern mass of the seat of the Council of the
Abruzzo Region, behind the Palazzo dell'Esposizioni, following it is
viale Luigi Cadorna which occupies a part not originally included in the
walls, which from viale Crispi resumed through Porta di Bathroom in via
Luigi Sturzo. This stretch was heavily modified in the 1960s with the
urbanization of Viale XX Settembre, and only the Lucoli and Roio gates
remain; the section of wall, from south to west, resumes at Borgo Rivera
with the gate of the same name, along viale Tancredi di Pentima,
arriving as far as Porta Poggio Santa Maria, from where the perimeter
goes north along viale XXV Aprile crossing Porta Romana, flowing into
viale Roma, where Porta Barete was located. From here the walls, through
via Santa Croce, continue towards the castle, skirting the buildings of
the ancient convent of Santa Lucia (now the headquarters of the Salesian
Opera), and viale San Giovanni Bosco skirting Porta Pizzoli (or San
Lorenzo), the church of San Silvestro, entering viale Duca degli
Abruzzi, where the walls have been almost completely demolished, except
for the stretch of Porta Branconia, and where they resume running
alongside the monasteries of Sant'Agnese and San Basilio, which are
located in the clearing of Piazzale Battaglione degli Alpini, where
Porta Santa Maria Paganica once stood.
Among the main streets and squares of L'Aquila there are: Costa
Masciarelli, a medieval alley that develops on the steepest rib of the
historic center, the one that goes from Piazza Duomo to Collemaggio, the
Quattro Cantoni, the intersection of Corso Vittorio Emanuele with Corso
Principe Umberto and Via San Bernardino, overlooked by four buildings
(Palazzo Fibbioni, Palazzo del Convitto, Palazzo Ciolina and Palazzo
INA), Via Fortebraccio, a street in the historic center on the border
between Quarto San Giorgio and Quarto Santa Maria, Via San Bernardino
with its stairway, which leads to the homonymous basilica, Corso
Vittorio Emanuele, the main city artery that crosses the city
transversely from the luminous fountain to Piazza Duomo, Corso Principe
Umberto, one of the main decumani of the city and Via XX Settembre, a
parallel open space the walls which starts from via di Porta Napoli and
reaches via del Complesso di San Domenico. Among the most important
squares are Piazza Duomo, the main square of the city which has hosted
the city market since 1303 and Piazza del Palazzo, which contains in the
center the statue of Sallustio, the Roman historian born in Amiternum
and houses Palazzo Margherita, the town hall .
To the west of the
historic center is the Borgo Rivera district, dating back to the 13th
century, when the fountain of 99 spouts was built, along the walls of
Porta Rivera. The village is therefore characterized by the square with
the fountain, and by a small Christian temple, the church of San Vito
alla Rivera. In about 1934 the slaughterhouse was built in the area.
Porta Rivera, a simple round stone arch, is the entrance to the village.
There are 2 archaeological sites in the capital, both from ancient cities: Amiternum, near San Vittorino, north of L'Aquila, which houses an amphitheater from the 1st century AD, a theater from the Augustan age and a villa from the late imperial age, with mosaics and frescoes, as well as the remains of thermal baths and an aqueduct also dating back to the age of Augustus, and Forconium, near Civita di Bagno, where the city walls and thermal baths have been found (4th century - 8th century); in the early Middle Ages it was of considerable importance due to the presence of the first Cathedral of San Massimo, of which large remains are preserved today (the three apses, the central columns, the perimeter walls and the bell tower).
Among the main natural areas of the city are the Tratturo
L'Aquila-Foggia, or Tratturo Magno, the largest Italian sheep track used
by transhumant shepherds for the journey in Puglia up to the Foggia fair
of the customs market, the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, built around
the Gran Sasso massif and a popular destination for tourists,
naturalists, hikers and sportsmen, with a part of the municipal
territory included in it, and the Regional Natural Reserve of the
Sources of the River Vera, a protected area around the sources of the
river Vera, near the hamlet of Tempera, which has paths that lead from
the hamlet directly to the sources, going up the course of the river.
There are several parks and gardens in the city; the largest is
Parco del Sole, near the basilica of Collemaggio. Furthermore, around
the Spanish Fort there is the park of the Castle, to the south of the
historic center there is the municipal villa and in the western suburbs
there is Piazza d'Armi, which also includes some sports facilities such
as the athletics track.
There are also four pine forests in the
city: in Monteluco (Pineta di Roio), above the convent of San Giuliano
(Pineta di San Giuliano), on the hairpin bends of Passo delle Capannelle
(Pineta di Arischia/Pizzoli) and, finally, the pine forests of Pesco
Croce and Colle Cerasitto (the Pinewoods of Bagno).
Epiphany Fair (January 5). It is the largest fair of this type in
Abruzzo and is held on 5 January each year, on the eve of the Epiphany,
in the historic center of L'Aquila.
Maletongue Festival (January
21st). Malelingue, or gossip, is celebrated on Saint Agnes' day. It is
an almost unique tradition of its kind and deeply rooted in the city,
whose historical origins are still being studied.
Procession of the
Dead Christ (Good Friday). A tradition common to many Italian cities,
the Good Friday procession in L'Aquila was established in 1506 and
crosses the historic center starting from the basilica of San
Bernardino.
Lamp of the fraternity (May 20). Ceremony commemorating
the disappearance of San Bernardino of Siena, who died in L'Aquila on
May 20, 1444.
Celestinian Pardon (August 23-29). It is the main
celebration in L'Aquila and the first and only annual jubilee in
history. It is a historical and religious event which culminates with
the opening of the Holy Door of the basilica of Collemaggio on August 28
of each year, as foreseen by San Pietro Celestino in a special papal
bull; the Door remains open for a whole day, until sunset on the 29th,
and the passage under it produces forgiveness from all sins. The
anniversary is accompanied by numerous other events, mostly of a
historical nature, which take place throughout the week.
Christmas
aperitif, Via Castello (historic centre). December 24th 10:00-16:00.
Over 6000 visitors from all over Italy, to celebrate Christmas in
friendship.
L'Aquila has a great tradition in terms of musical and theatrical
offerings with various associations, choirs and bodies of various kinds
operating throughout the territory; the Alfredo Casella Conservatory,
the Bonaventura Barattelli Concert Society of Aquila and the Teatro
Stabile d'Abruzzo are mentioned in particular. There are numerous
cinemas in the city, most of which are unusable today due to the 2009
earthquake. For cinema, we note the presence of an International Academy
for Image Arts and Sciences and a Film Institute, which they take care
of various city events.
The weekend food and wine trip in the
historic center is now a successful stop, followed by young and old,
from kebabs with Montepulciano wine, ending with excellent cocktails
prepared by professional bartenders in via garibaldi, it turns out to be
appreciated mostly by visitors from the Roman area and from abroad
Of importance for the tourist, the trip in a mixed context between
nature and historic architecture, made new by the countless renovations
due to the earthquake.
For visitors of all seasons the MUNDA -
National Museum of Abruzzo tel 335 596 4661, in via Tancredi da Pentima
snc, Borgo Rivera, in front of the 99 spouts, train station area, in the
2019 season during the spring bridge over 7500 visitors.
Electric
bikes (In the historic center). In summer. There are 3 rental points,
from which you can take tourist tours of the entire city, without the
need for guides.
Sport fishing ("ju scertu", train station area, near
99 spouts, after a level crossing), ☎ +39 335 1281455. Open all year
round. Lake suitable for carp-fishing and big trout, with barbecue
areas.
Motocross track, Via Francesco Paolo Tosti 68/G, ☎ +39 339
414 7220. Open all year round. For adrenaline-pumping days, cross and
enduro approved.
Yoga centre, ☎ +39 347 1372337. Open all year round.
Skate Park aq (At the sports field in Piazza d'Armi). Open all the year.
For the entertainment of children and not.
Trekking and running in
the mountains. madonna fore route, 850 m long climb with about 150 m in
altitude, which leads to the church of the Madonna Fore, with a fountain
of drinking water both at the start and at the finish and local bar,
located at the start for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the the path is
set up with religious statues by Valter di Carlo, a nationally renowned
artist from L'Aquila, served as ground lighting, a favorite destination
for the people of L'Aquila.
Municipal swimming pool, Viale Ovidio 3,
☎ +39 0862 404358. Open all year round. For relaxation and swimming
enthusiasts, with solarium area and bar.
Tennis, Viale Ovidio 1
(above the municipal swimming pool), ☎ +39 0862 414018. Indoor and
outdoor clay courts with bar-restaurant.
Golf (13 km from L'Aquila),
☎ +39 0862 601212. Campo San Donato Golf, with indoor spa.
The traditional evening in L'Aquila includes an aperitif with dinner
and an after-dinner drink in one of the small but numerous bars which,
until 2009, characterized the entire historic centre. After the
earthquake, nightlife was reorganized in the same way around Piazza
Regina Margherita (one of the few squares open to the public in the
historic centre), along Viale della Croce Rossa and along Viale Corrado
IV. The main evenings are those of Thursday (university Thursday),
Friday and Saturday.
Shows
Movieplex cinema, via Leonardo Da
Vinci. 5-7,5€. 17-24. Multiplex located close to the Pettino district.
Auditorium of the Guardia di Finanza, piazza 6 aprile 2009 snc.
Auditorium located inside the citadel of the Guardia di Finanza and used
for concerts and shows of considerable importance.
Park Auditorium,
viale delle Medaglie d'Oro snc. Concert hall located in the castle park
and designed by the architect Renzo Piano.
L'Aquila Concert Hall, via
Francesco Savini snc. Concert hall adjacent to the Alfredo Casella
Conservatory and designed by architect Shigaru Ban.
Municipal
theater, Piazza del Teatro snc. Historic theater hall in the city, it
has a main hall (currently unusable) and a secondary hall.
Night
clubs
Anbra, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 49. Locally produced brewery.
Gran Caffè dell'Aquila, viale Corrado IV 6, ☎ +39 0862 413365.
Aperitifs, ice cream shop, appetizers.
Ju Boss, via Castello 3.
Cellar.
Le Petit Clos, piazza Regina Margherita 1. Aperitifs,
appetizers.
La Dolce Vita, Viale Corrado IV. Aperitifs, snacks.
Malacoda, piazza Regina Margherita 8. Aperitifs, appetizers.
Tropical
Next, viale Corrado IV, ☎ +39 0862 317937. Aperitifs, appetizers.
Chiarino, Chiarino Square. Cocktails only.
Sam, Via Castello.
Cocktails only.
All beer, Via della Croce Rossa. Beers from all over
the world.
Yoichi, Piazza Santa Maria Paganica 17, ☎ +39 333 955
8287. Asian fusion restaurant & top cocktails.
Lo Straccale, Via
Garibaldi, 25, ☎ +39 333 233 8386. Cocktail bar.
Dance club
Novecento10, S.S.17, ☎ +39 0862 318097. Discobar.
Doll (Pile
industrial area).
By plane
L'Aquila has a civil airport (Airport dei Parchi) which,
however, is not yet served by national and international carriers. The
closest airports are therefore those of:
Pescara (Abruzzo Pasquale
Liberi International Airport), about 105 km from L'Aquila;
Rome-Ciampino (Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport), about 120
km from L'Aquila;
Rome-Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci Intercontinental
Airport), about 140 km from L'Aquila.
By car
L'Aquila is
connected to the motorway network via the A24 Rome-Teramo which allows a
direct connection with the capital (to the west) and the Adriatic Sea
(to the east); in the municipal area there are three exits: L'Aquila
west, L'Aquila east and Assergi with the latter located near the ski
resort of Campo Imperatore.
It is 100 km from both Rome and
Pescara respectively.
On the train
The city is crossed by the
Terni-Sulmona railway line, with a single track and not electrified,
which constitutes the connection between the Rome-Ancona line and the
Rome-Pescara line. Due to its characteristics, the line is not suitable
for travel to and from large cities but can be used, especially for
tourism purposes, to reach the centers of the Subequana valley and the
Peligna valley.
The main city station is located close to the
south-western circle of the walls of L'Aquila, near the Rivera area and
the 99 spout fountain. Two other minor stations are located in the
hamlets of Paganica and Sassa Scalo.
By bus
L'Aquila is served
by numerous regional and inter-regional lines managed by the Abruzzo
public regional bus lines (A.R.P.A.); the main connections, with trips
every hour, are to and from Avezzano, Chieti, Giulianova, Pescara, Rome,
Sulmona and Teramo. As far as the capital is concerned, the departure
station is that of Tiburtina while in L'Aquila the main station is the
Lorenzo Natali Terminal, located in the Collemaggio valley, near the
homonymous basilica; the Terminal has an underground car park, a small
shopping gallery and a mechanized connection with Piazza del Duomo
(unusable since 2009). Other important city stops are located near
Piazza d'Armi, in the western area of the city, and near the Monumental
Cemetery, in the eastern area of the city.
Due to its shape and size, the city can be visited on foot. However,
following the 2009 earthquake, a large part of the historic center is
closed to access for safety reasons and this severely limits pedestrian
visits to the city.
By public transport
Public transport is
managed by the Aquilana Mobility Company (A.M.A.) and operates with
about fifteen daytime lines and one night line only on Thursday evening.
Almost all of the lines depart from the Lorenzo Natali Terminal where
there is an active interchange with the interregional lines of the
Abruzzo Public Autolinee Regionali (A.R.P.A.) or with private transport,
as the airport has an underground car park; the Terminal is also
connected to Piazza del Duomo via a mechanized link (unusable since
2009).
The main city stops are near the Cemetery, near the
Fontana Luminosa (the most convenient stop for visiting the historic
centre), near Piazza d'Armi, near the regional hospital and near the
commercial and industrial area of Pile.
Via the bus lines it is
also possible to reach the ski resorts of Campo Imperatore (10 km) and
Campo Felice (25 km).
By taxi
With taxi service until 24:00 by
calling tel +39 0862 0222
With blu taxi by making a personal card
after 24:00 by calling +39 393 0077070
Crafts
Cavallo, c/o C.C. L'Aquilone, ☎ +39 0862 319677. Local
craftsmanship and goldsmith's art.
The Golden Hands, phrase Santi di
Preturo snc. Bobbin work, an ancient tradition from L'Aquila.
Gastronomy
Nothing less than among the best in Italy and in the
world, our traditional cuisine ranges from truffles with saffron, to
wild boar meat, the classic kebab and the best red table wine, classic
dessert. our Aquilano Nurzia nougat, famous all over the world.
Bar Fratelli Nurzia, piazza del Duomo 74, ☎ +39 0862 21002. 8-20.
Reference bar for the purchase of the main local confectionery products
including the soft chocolate nougat produced by the same company in
L'Aquila since the first half of the 19th century.
The Cascina,
piazza Regina Margherita 5. 8-22. Sale of typical products, in
particular cured meats and cheeses.
Bread of Prata, via Cardinale
Mazzarino 16. 8-20. Homemade bread from L'Aquila.
Rovo carni (Zona
santa barbara), ☎ +39 0862 316294. Fresh arrosticini and salami with
truffles.
Castelsimoni, Via solferino, ☎ +39 347 246 1700. Wines
produced in L'Aquila.
Celso Cioni pastry shop since 1926, Via S.
Franco d'Assergi, ☎ +39 0862 318683.
Anonima Brasseria Aquilana
(AnBra), Via Garibaldi 49, ☎ +39 393 990 4357. L'Aquila brewery.
The
Gifts of the Earth, Via San Sisto, ☎ +39 347 462 6667. Truffles and
Saffron Made In Abruzzo.
World Truffles.
Artemisia Liqueurs and
Sweets
Modest prices
Il Boschetto, viale delle Fiamme Gialle snc. 15-20€.
Home cooking.
La Cascina del Viaggiatore, via L'Aquila per Pianola 47
bis, ☎ +39 0862 65550. €15-20. Local cuisine.
La Capannina, via per
Roio 10, ☎ +39 0862 414649. €15-20. Local cuisine, pizzeria.
Murphy's
Pub, viale della Croce Rossa 117. €10-15. Brewery, rotisserie.
Valkiria, via Acquasanta 8. €15-20. Local cuisine, pizzeria.
Woki
Woki, via Francesco Savini, ☎ +39 0862 463122. €10-15. International
cuisine.
La cerella, Via cerella, ☎ +39 0862 452123. Tradition on the
plate.
"Da Pedro" restaurant, Via Colle dei Grilli, ☎ +39 0862
362400. Fish specialities.
Average prices
At Casa Mia, via
Francesco Paolo Michetti 1, ☎ +39 0862 700260. €20-25. Persian cuisine.
Little house in the park, Aterno local road 33, ☎ +39 0862 1960837.
€25-30. Local cuisine.
From Lincosta, via Antonelli 6, ☎ +39 0862
204358. €20-25. Local cuisine.
Ernesto, via Luxembourg 30-38, ☎ +39
0862 316426. €25-30. Local cuisine.
Il Tarragon, viale della Croce
Rossa 4, ☎ +39 0862 64169. €25-30. Meat.
Il Quinto Quarto, via
Eusanio Stella snc, ☎ +39 0862 311868. €20-25. Local cuisine.
La
Conca, via Giacomo Caldora 12, ☎ +39 0862 405211. €20-25. Local cuisine.
The Grotto of Aligi, viale Luigi Rendina 1, ☎ +39 0862 204960. €20-25.
Local cuisine, grilled meat, cod.
Osteria n°99, via Erbosa 5, Preturo
district. 20-25€. Local cuisine.
High prices
Elodia nel Parco,
via Valle Perchiana 22, Camarda district, ☎ +39 0862 606830. €40-50.
Local cuisine revisited.
Magione Papale, via Porta Napoli 67/1, ☎ +39
0862 404426. Italian cuisine.
Pizzeria Mickey Mouse, Via Tito
Pellicciotti, 8 (Eastern L'Aquila, Gignano area), ☎ +39 3775096830.
Tue-Sun. Wood oven pizzeria, arrosticini and various.
Average prices
Bed and breakfast Grace, Via dei Piceni, 3 (In the
historical centre), ☎ +39 328 6156565, bbgrace@libero.it. 40.
Canadian Hotel, Strada Statale 17 - Casermette, ☎ +39 0862 317402.
B&B da Charlie, Via Monte Brancastello, 22 (2.5 km from the center in a
residential area), ☎ +39 347 8597938, domenico.zia@libero.it. €25 per
person. Check-in: 18:00, check-out: 11:00. It offers overnight stays
with breakfast.
Bominaco — boasts an important religious complex with the abbey of
Santa Maria Assunta and the frescoed oratory of San Pellegrino. Remains
of a castle.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio — medieval village - called
sexantio by the entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren.
San Demetrio ne'
Vestini — where the Sinizzo lake is located, suitable for swimming with
drinking water, and a barbecue area. At 2 km the caves of stiffe,
visited every year by thousands of tourists.
Paganica — Hermitage
madonna d'appari - The fourteenth-century sanctuary of the Madonna
d'Appari set in the rock and almost entirely frescoed between the
fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, with an interesting stone aedicula
with riveted pillars and archivolt molded with garlands and a frescoed
background with a communion of the apostles attributed to Pierfrancesco
son of Francesco da Montereale. Inside, on the left, a large canvas from
1596 by Pompeo Mausonio with the Madonna del Rosario, framed by 15
panels of mysteries.
L'Aquila rises in the homonymous basin in the middle Aterno
valley. The historic center is located on a hill at an altitude of
714 meters above sea level, which makes it third among the highest
Italian provincial capitals, while the hamlets are located on the
slope or on the top of the surrounding hills. After World War II,
urban expansion was concentrated in the western outskirts of the
city, in an area with a predominantly flat character. The city is
surrounded by the mountains of the Gran Sasso and the Sirente-Velino
chain (in particular the mountain group of Monte Ocre-Monte Cagno).
The city is located to the left of the Aterno river and is
lapped by three other rivers, tributaries of the first: the Vetoio
(in Coppito), the Raio (in Sassa) and the Vera (in Tempera). In the
municipal area there are also 3 small lakes (Lake Vetoio and the two
lakes of Bagno) and within it lies a small part of Lake Campotosto.
The municipal territory has an exclave in a mountain area, bordering
the Sirente - Velino regional natural park and the Montagne della
Duchessa nature reserve.
On the basis of the official climatic averages 1951-2000 published by ARSSA Abruzzo, relating to the weather station in the historic center, the annual average of the minimum temperatures stands at +6.5 ° C, the annual average of the maximums at +17.3 ° C, while the average annual temperature is +11.9 ° C. The absolute maximum, of +40 ° C, was recorded on August 27, 1960, while the negative extreme is -17.8 ° C, recorded on February 17, 1956; in addition, a -22.3 ° C was detected on February 16, 1929. The lowest thermal value recorded in the municipal area, however, belongs to the meteorological station of the Air Force located at the Parco Airport, which on January 11, 1985 arrived in touch -23.4 ° C. Precipitation averages 713 mm per year with 92 rainy days, while there are 68 days of frost during the year.
When the site for the foundation of the city was chosen, a place
called Acculi (or Acculae) was identified. The area was in a
strategic position between the two poles within which the new urban
center was to be born, namely the two centers of Forcona and
Amiternum. Acculi, also close to the Aterno river, corresponds to
the current Borgo Rivera, where the 99 spouts fountain is located;
at the time of its foundation there was a church with a monastery in
that area, Santa Maria ad Fontes de Acquilis, so called because it
was an area rich in springs. The name of Aquila was therefore chosen
for the new city, which took up the already existing toponym, but
which also recalled the emblem of the imperial eagle: according to
the foundation certificate attributed to Emperor Conrad IV.
In fact, an eagle appears in the city's coat of arms. On the side
appears the inscription Immota manet and the abbreviation PHS. The
motto "Immota manet" means "Stand still". The expression is perhaps
taken from a verse of the Latin poet Virgil, who attributes to the
oak the ability to take root strongly and therefore to remain firm,
firmly in place. The PHS inscription does not have a certain origin:
according to some, it is a transcription error of the IHS
Christogram; others think it means "Publica Hic Salus", that is,
"here [is] public health". According to another thesis, PHS stands
for "post hanc stragem", referring to the rebirth after an
earthquake (after the massacre, it stands still, resists). The city,
originally called "Aquila", after the unification of Italy became
"Aquila degli Abruzzi" and changed its name again during the fascist
regime, acquiring the current name "L'Aquila".
The L'Aquila basin was already inhabited in ancient times. Before the
conquest by Rome, the entire Aterno valley was a place of settlement for
the Sabines and the Vestini, whose territories bordered precisely on the
point where the city would be built in the future.
After the
conquest of the Romans, which took place in the 3rd century BC, the city
of Amiternum existed in the locality of San Vittorino, where there are
the remains of a Roman theater and amphitheater, evidence of the
importance assumed by the city over time. It was the birthplace of
Sallustio and was an episcopal seat together with the nearby cities of
Forconium and Pitinum. Having survived the fall of the Western Roman
Empire, Amiterno experienced a period of great decline, until it was
completely abandoned with the foundation of the new city.
In 1229 the inhabitants of the castles in the area rebelled against
the feudalism imposed by the Norman-Swabian barons and, after turning to
Pope Gregory IX, they obtained permission to found the city, but the
initiative did not materialise. On May 20, 1254, the emperor Conrad IV
of Swabia promulgated an act granting the inhabitants permission to
build a new large city named "Aquila".
The events of the
foundation of L'Aquila are told by Buccio di Ranallo, author of a rhymed
chronicle which narrates the history of the city from 1254 to 1362; in
addition, important testimonies on the history of L'Aquila and the
Abruzzo region are reported in the manuscripts of the eighteenth-century
historian Anton Ludovico Antinori. According to legend, the city was
founded by 99 castles, each of which built a church, a square and a
fountain in the city. In memory of the foundation, the bell of the civic
tower still strikes 99 times today and the first great monument of the
city, the fountain of 99 spouts, celebrates the castles.
Managed
by a podestà and a free council, the city had an autonomous organization
and its own statutes. The strategic position and growing importance in
the religious sphere contributed to the rise of Aquila, sealed by the
transfer of the bishopric from Forcona in 1257 by Pope Alexander IV.
After two years, in 1259, guilty of having remained faithful to the
Church in the dispute between the papacy and the empire, Aquila was
razed to the ground by Manfredi of Sicily and was rebuilt in 1266 with
the authorization of Charles I of Anjou; the city, grateful to the new
conqueror, spontaneously submitted, regaining its original prestige.
In 1288 the hermit Pietro da Morrone decided to build the basilica
of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila, an authoritative example of
Romanesque art and a symbol of the city. Precisely in this basilica the
hermit was crowned pope with the name of Celestine V on 29 August 1294.
In the same year, Celestine issued a papal bull, with which he granted a
plenary and universal indulgence to all humanity, setting as conditions
for obtaining forgiveness: entering the basilica in the time frame
between the evenings of 28 and 29 August of each year and being "truly
repented and confessed". The bull is still valid today and anticipated
the introduction of the Holy Year by six years, which took place at the
behest of Pope Boniface VIII in 1300; it can therefore be considered the
first jubilee in history. The door of Celestine V, located on the
northern side of the basilica is therefore to all intents and purposes a
holy door.
The city of L'Aquila stands on a highly seismic
territory and since its foundation it has been marred by numerous
destructive telluric events. The first earthquake of which we have news
dates back to December 13, 1315. Another strong earthquake occurred on
September 9, 1349, had an intensity equal to 6.5 on the Richter scale
and produced damages that can be evaluated in the X degree on the
Mercalli scale. Large sections of the city walls were breached and
knocked down and many houses and churches collapsed. The victims were
eight hundred and, since at the time the inhabitants of Aquila were less
than ten thousand, it was almost 10% of the population. The great dust
that arose weighed down on the city for a long time, preventing the
sudden rescue of those who had been overwhelmed by the rubble. The
difficult and laborious reconstruction discouraged a part of the
population, who preferred to return to the villages and castles from
which their ancestors had come. Faced with the massive exodus of the
population and the consequent prospect of seeing the city prematurely
wiped out, the leader and governor of the city Lalle I Camponeschi had
the city walls garrisoned and the gates closed with wooden planks.
The city, which remained faithful to the royal house of
Anjou-Durres, was identified as a sensitive target during the war
against the Aragonese. The latter hired Braccio da Montone, promising
him the lordship of the city in case he managed to take it. After a year
of siege (1423-1424) Aquila, although exhausted and exhausted, emerged
victorious: it thus freed itself from royal power and strengthened its
social order which was freed from feudal bonds, thus preparing for a
period of rebirth.
The fifteenth century corresponds to the golden age of the city of
Aquila. After the reconstruction, it prospered thanks to its trade,
especially in wool, extending its relations to Florence, Genoa and
Venice and also to countries such as France, the Netherlands and
Germany.
The city held, for various reasons, a mint since 1382,
under Louis I of Anjou, an institution also renewed by the Aragonese and
the Spanish, while in 1458, by Ferrante of Aragon, the license to
establish the University . In 1482 Adam Burkardt, a pupil of Johannes
Gutenberg, set up a printing house there, ensuring a wide diffusion of
precious works.
In this time the city was also famous for the
prolonged residence of three great Franciscan saints: Bernardino of
Siena, Giovanni of Capestrano and Giacomo della Marca. When the former
died in the city on 20 May 1444, the population asked for and obtained
permission from Pope Eugene IV to keep his remains and so the basilica
of San Bernardino was built for this purpose in 1472.
On 26
November 1461 there was a new violent earthquake with an estimated
intensity of magnitude 6.4 on the Richter Scale and destructiveness
equal to degree X on the Mercalli Scale. After the main shock of 26
November, a series of seismic events followed which lasted for about two
months, with further strong shocks. The sources report the almost total
destruction of Onna, Poggio Picenze, Castelnuovo and Sant'Eusanio.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Naples, and with it Aquila, had passed to
the Aragonese. In 1527 the citizens of L'Aquila rebelled against the new
ruler, provoking the immediate Spanish retaliation. Viceroy Philibert of
Chalons devastated it and separated it from its countryside. He also
inflicted a very heavy fine, which exceeded all possibilities of the
Aquilans, and with this money he contributed to the construction of the
Spanish Fort, on whose portal stands the inscription Ad reprimendam
aquilanorum audaciam, or "for the repression of the audacity of the
Aquilans", aimed at discouraging any possible subsequent rebellion.
Subsequently, the city struggled to get back on its feet, but its
recovery was slowed down again by the earthquakes of 1646 and 1672.
In the eighteenth century the city was affected by an earthquake
swarm, which culminated in a very violent earthquake which, once again,
razed it to the ground. The first tremor of the long sequence occurred
on October 14, 1702, but the largest was recorded on February 2, 1703
and is estimated to have had a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter Scale,
causing devastation estimated at X degree on the Mercalli Scale.
Almost all the churches and public buildings in the city collapsed or
suffered serious damage. It is estimated that more than 6,000 people
died in the various quakes that hit the city that year. The churches of
San Bernardino (of which only the choir, facade and side walls
remained), San Filippo, San Francesco, Sant'Agostino, the cathedral and
all the palaces of the city were razed to the ground or heavily damaged.
The peace of Vienna (1738) put an end to Austrian domination: the
city therefore became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1799
the Kingdom was occupied by the Napoleonic French who established the
Parthenopean Republic supported by Enlightenment intellectuals.
Subsequently, after an initial return of the Bourbons to the throne of
Naples, in 1806 the French regained possession of the Kingdom with
Giuseppe Bonaparte and Gioacchino Murat. Also this time an insurrection
provoked the reaction of the occupiers and Aquila was sacked.
During the Risorgimento, the inhabitants of L'Aquila actively
participated in the uprisings under the guidance of Pietro Marrelli, who
on 20 November 1860 hosted Giuseppe Mazzini himself in Aquila, in the
Convent of San Giuseppe.
With the unification of Italy, the city
was assigned the role of capital of the geographical region of Abruzzo
and Molise (until 1970 the regions did not exist as an Italian
administrative body, being considered only as statistical bodies). On
that occasion the name of the city was changed to "Aquila degli
Abruzzi".
In 1927, a law, known as the Great Aquila, sanctioned
the unification of 8 municipalities in the L'Aquila area with the
capital. In 1947 Lucoli, after having been part of the L'Aquila area for
20 years, was the only municipality to become independent again, unlike
the other seven that had been suppressed. Furthermore, as part of the
provincial reorganization established by the fascist regime, the
provinces of Pescara and Rieti were established: the latter was made up
in part thanks to the territory of the district of Cittaducale, which
was part of the province of L'Aquila, for a total of 1365 km² and about
60,000 inhabitants, while the municipalities of Bussi sul Tirino and
Popoli were ceded to the province of Pescara.
In 1939 the city
assumed the definitive denomination of "L'Aquila".
In 1970 the
regions were officially born. In Abruzzo, the decision to locate various
departments in Pescara provoked numerous reactions and controversies in
the city. Real riots and street clashes also followed, the so-called
uprisings of L'Aquila, mainly led and sponsored by the local far-right
parties of the time. The final agreement recognized the city as the
capital of Abruzzo, but allowed Pescara to host various regional offices
and departments and regular council and council meetings.
On 6
April 2009, at 3:32 am, after several months of minor shocks localized
and felt throughout the L'Aquila area, L'Aquila was struck by an
earthquake measuring 6.3 Mw (5.9 Ml on the scale Richter) and between
the 8th and 9th degree of the Mercalli scale, with epicenter located in
Roio. The final toll was 309 victims and over 1,500 wounded, while the
almost total evacuation of the city brought the number of displaced
people to 65,000. In the days following the main earthquake, other
strong shocks, albeit of lesser intensity, hit the L'Aquila area: a
strong shock of magnitude 5.6 Mw at 19.47 on 7 April 2009, one of
magnitude 5.4 Mw at 2.52 of 9 April 2009 and one of 5.2 Mw at 21:38 on 9
April 2009.
The earthquake poured its force on the town and
neighboring towns, including Onna, Roio, Villa Sant'Angelo, Castelnuovo,
Tempera, San Gregorio and Paganica. The capital itself presents
collapses even total in many areas and very serious damage to most of
the buildings of historical and cultural value. The main churches were
severely damaged or almost completely collapsed.
The dialect of the city of L'Aquila differs from the remaining Abruzzo dialects by inserting itself in the Aquilan group of the Sabine dialect, belonging to the median Italian dialects. A qualifying trait of this dialect group is the preservation of the unstressed final vowels. In particular, in the Rieti-Aquila domain, a traditionally conservative area, the distinction between final -o and -u is still maintained, depending on the original Latin matrix: for example, in L'Aquila we have cavaju for "horse" (Latin: caballus), ma scrio for "I write" (Latin: scribe).
Celestinian forgiveness
The Celestinian Forgiveness takes place
every year on 28 and 29 August. The name Perdonanza derives from the
Bull of Forgiveness that Pope Celestino V issued from L'Aquila at the
end of September 1294. The bull is now kept in the armored chapel of the
tower of the Palazzo Comunale. The ancient civic statutes required that,
precisely because the citizens had protected the precious document, it
was the civil authority to proclaim the Feast of Forgiveness,
respecting, however, the dictates of Pope Celestine. And still today it
is the mayor of the Abruzzo capital who reads the Pope's bull, shortly
before the opening of the holy door of the basilica of Collemaggio by a
cardinal invited by the archdiocese.
Procession of the Dead
Christ
The procession of the Dead Christ in L'Aquila is one of the
oldest Christian traditions in the city. In 1954 the artist Remo
Brindisi and father Fedele Brindisi created 16 of the 20 simulacra which
are still carried in procession today. The beginning of the itinerary
starts from the basilica of San Bernardino, crossing the main streets of
the centre, and every year the coffin of Jesus deposed is escorted by
various associations of doctors, surgeons, lawyers, together with the
four banners of the historic quarters, under the music of the Miser by
the Theatine Saverio Selecchy. The origins of the procession date back
to the 16th century: it took place for the first time in the year
1505-1506, when the Confraternity of San Leonardo had the figures made
for the celebration. The rite ended in 1768, forbidden by King Ferdinand
IV for matters of public order and only in 1954, due to the interest of
the Friars Minor of San Bernardino, the rite was restored.
Other
anniversaries
Other celebrations in L'Aquila are:
the patronal
feast of San Massimo: it is celebrated on 10 June and commemorates the
patron saint Massimo of Aveia, who has always been venerated in the
city, when in 1256 his relics were moved to the cathedral;
the
patronal feast of San Bernardino: it is celebrated from 19 to 21 May, in
the basilica of the same name and includes pilgrimages to the tomb of
the saint and a processional parade through the streets of the centre;
the feast of Sant'Agnese and the Malelingue: it is celebrated on 21
January, the day of Sant'Agnese.
L'Aquila is home to the following institutions:
Provincial Council
of L'Aquila;
Regional Council of Abruzzo;
Presidency and Regional
Council;
University of L'Aquila
Superintendence of archaeology,
fine arts and landscape for the provinces of L'Aquila and Teramo;
Abruzzo national history deputation;
Court of Appeal of L'Aquila;
Juvenile prison in L'Aquila;
Metropolitan Archdiocese of L'Aquila.