Conca Aquilana and Gran Sasso

<< Abruzzo

The Conca Aquilana is a valley among the Apennines of Abruzzo, in the Province of L’Aquila. This valley is located south of the Gran Sasso d’Italia massif, which features the highest peak in the Apennines. The Conca Aquilana is named after the main city in this area, L’Aquila, which offers several historic sites. Various other small towns also feature interesting attractions.

L’Aquila

L’Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo and it is located in a valley at the foot of the Gran Sasso d’Italia, the highest mountain in the Apennines. This area was inhabited since ancient times, but the modern town was founded in 1254 by a coalition of small villages. The city quickly developed and became one of the main centers in the Kingdom of Naples, but suffered a decline after being heavily damaged by the Spanish army in 1527. L’Aquila later shared the history of the rest of the kingdom, eventually joining Italy when the country was unified. The history of the city has been shaped by several strong earthquakes, most recently in 2009, which often devastated the town. Despite this, L’Aquila hosts various historic landmarks, and it is a tourist destination thanks to its proximity to the Gran Sasso.

✪ Campo Imperatore

Campo Imperatore is a large plateau located among the mountains of the Gran Sasso massif. This area is located north-east of L’Aquila, and it is one of the main attractions in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park (Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga). Campo Imperatore is linked with the small tourist resort of Fonte Cerreto through a cableway, which ends near Hotel Campo Imperatore. This 1930s hotel is famous for being the place where Mussolini was imprisoned in 1943 before being liberated by German troops. Near the hotel are also an astronomical observatory and the Alpine Botanical Garden of Campo Imperatore (Giardino Botanico Alpino di Campo Imperatore), which houses several plant species from the nearby mountains. Campo Imperatore also hosts one of the oldest ski resorts in Italy, and features various ski trails. A hiking trail from Campo Imperatore leads to Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Gran Sasso massif and all the Apennines.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio

The Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio is a historic church located on a small hill just south of the old town of L’Aquila. Built in the late 13th century, the church features a blend of Romanesque and Gothic elements, and it is regarded as one of the greatest architectural masterpieces in Abruzzo. Since 1294, this church is the site of the Celestinian Forgiveness, a religious event that served as a predecessor to the Jubilee, that was established in 1300. The church features a decorated facade with an elaborate rose window, and hosts various artworks, most notably the funerary monument of Pope Celestine V, made in 1517. The church was damaged by various earthquakes over its history, and the restoration works after the 2009 earthquake were completed in 2017, when the basilica was reopened.

✪ Basilica of San Bernardino

The Basilica of San Bernardino is a 15th-century church in L’Aquila, and the main Renaissance landmark in the city. The church features a large Renaissance facade, while the interior hosts several Baroque decorations added in the 18th century, when the church was rebuilt after being devastated by an earthquake in 1703. The basilica was again damaged by an earthquake in 2009, and it was reopened in 2015. The church is dedicated to Saint Bernardino of Siena, who died in L’Aquila, and houses his elaborate funerary monument. The basilica also features various other artworks. A long monumental staircase leads to the church.

L’Aquila Cathedral

The L’Aquila Cathedral (Duomo dell’Aquila) is the main church of the city, originally erected in the 13th century and rebuilt after being destroyed by an earthquake in 1703. The church features a Neoclassical facade and a Baroque interior with several decorations. Again heavily damaged by an earthquake in 2009, the cathedral is still being restored. The church faces Piazza del Duomo, the main square in the city.

Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio

The Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio is an 18th-century church in L’Aquila, located on Piazza del Duomo. The church was built after the 1703 earthquake and features an elaborate Baroque facade and a few artworks. The building was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 2009, and it was reopened in 2018.

National Museum of the Arts of the 21st-Century of L’Aquila

The National Museum of the Arts of the 21st-Century of L’Aquila (Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo dell’Aquila) is a section of the museum of the same name in Rome. The museum was opened in 2021 and it is hosted in the 18th-century Palazzo Ardinghelli, a Baroque palace that has been restored after the 2009 earthquake. The museum mostly hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.

Spanish Fort

The Spanish Fort (Forte Spagnolo) is a large 16th-century fortress built in L’Aquila by the Spanish. The fort was not built to defend the city but to control it, after the town revolted against the Spanish occupation. The fortress features imposing walls and it is surrounded by a park. It hosted the National Museum of Abruzzo until 2009, when the building was damaged by an earthquake. The fort is currently being restored.

Church of San Silvestro

The Church of San Silvestro is a Gothic church erected in L’Aquila between the 13th and 14th century. The church features a simple facade with an elaborate rose window, while the interior houses a series of frescoes from the Late Middle Ages. The painting of the Visitation (Visitazione) by Raphael was originally housed here, but it was plundered in 1655 by Spanish troops, and it is currently in the Prado Museum in Madrid, while a copy of the painting is hosted in this church. Damaged in the 2009 earthquake, it was reopened in 2019.

Fountain of the 99 Spouts

The Fountain of the 99 Spouts (Fontana delle 99 Cannelle) is a monumental fountain in L’Aquila. It was built in 1272 and, as the name suggests, features 99 spouts, a reference to the 99 villages which, according to local tradition, contributed to the foundation of the city. 93 of the 99 spouts feature different mascarons, while the remaining six are free.

National Museum of Abruzzo

The National Museum of Abruzzo (Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo) is a museum of archaeology, art, and local history in L’Aquila. Originally hosted in the Spanish Fort, it was moved to its current location after the 2009 earthquake. The museum hosts a large skeleton of a mammoth, several archaeological finds from around the city, and a collection of artworks dating between the Late Middle Ages and the 20th century.

Archaeological Area of Amiternum

Amiternum was an ancient city founded by the Sabines and later inhabited by the Romans. Once a flourishing town, it was for centuries the main center in the area, but it declined in the Early Middle Ages, before being definitively abandoned in favor of L’Aquila. The ruins of the city are located north-west of L’Aquila and feature an amphitheater, a theater, and a few other structures.

Fossa

Fossa is a tiny town located at the foot of the mountains south-east of L’Aquila. The town was founded in the Middle Ages and features some historic attractions.

Church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas

The Church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas is a medieval church near Fossa. Built in Romanesque style over a previous structure, the church houses a rich series of elaborate 13th-century frescoes, one of the largest and oldest surviving cycles of its kind in Abruzzo.

San Demetrio ne’ Vestini

San Demetrio ne’ Vestini is a small town located at the foot of the mountains east of L’Aquila, best known for the cave system situated in its territory.

Stiffe Caves

The Stiffe Caves (Grotte di Stiffe) is a system of karst caves located south of San Demetrio ne’ Vestini. The caves house numerous interesting rock formations, but are best known for the two tall waterfalls located inside the system. A museum dedicated to speleology is just outside the entrance to the caves.

Caporciano

Caporciano is a tiny town located at the foot of the mountains in the Province of L’Aquila. A town of medieval origins, it features some historic landmarks, especially in the hamlet of Bominaco.

Oratory of San Pellegrino

The Oratory of San Pellegrino is a small Romanesque oratory erected in the 13th century in Bominaco, near Caporciano. The oratory features a large cycle of medieval frescoes, one of the largest and most well preserved of its kind in all of Abruzzo.

Calascio

Calascio is a tiny village located among the slopes of the Gran Sasso massif in the Province of L’Aquila, best known for its historic castle.

✪ Rocca Calascio Castle

The Rocca Calascio Castle is a castle erected near Calascio during the Late Middle Ages. Expanded and reworked several times, the castle is now one of the main tourist attractions in the area and it has appeared in various movies. The structure features four towers and it is the highest fortress in the Apennines, being located at an elevation of around 1460 meters. Thanks to its position, the castle offeres a great view on the surrounding area. The Renaissance Church of Santa Maria della Pietà is located nearby.