Description

Avezzano is the beating heart of the Marsica region, the biggest city of the area (sixth in Abruzzo). Its history is full of events that, during the years, have completely altered its geography and, every single time, have pushed its inhabitants their own future.

Traces of the city date back to the paleolithic. On the Mount Salviano there are in fact some grottos where you can find some traces of the local population. As the other cities of the territory, Avezzano was occupied by the population of the Equi and the Marsi and then, in 1941, was transformed by the drying out of the Fucino Lake.

Avezzano was destroyed by the Goths, the Alemans, and the Greeks. In the 15^th century, it was contended by the families of Orsini and Colonna, with the former winning over the territory and building the castle that is still visible.

The future of the city was deeply changed by Alessandro Colonna: between 1855 and 1876 he drained out the Fucino Lake transforming it in a 16,000 hectares plain that has become the biggest vegetable garden in Italy. Then, in 1915, the city was completely destroyed by a powerful earthquake that killed 30,000 people.

Just a few monuments and houses survived the earthquake. The rebuilding of the city was a slow process to which contributed even the Austro-Hungarian prisoners in the concentration camp in the north of the city. Then, while the local inhabitants were trying to get back on their feet, another dramatic event happened. The city was bombed and destroyed during the Second World War. After the liberation, its inhabitants received 14,000 hectares of the Fucino Plain. Thanks to this, economy started again and the city got back on its feet.

Nowadays the city plays a pivotal role for the entire Marsica region. Here you can visit the Orsini castle, the Torlonia villa, the museums and many other symbolical places that host many events and cultural initiatives.