Avezzano is the sixth most populous town in Abruzzo and the capital of Marsica. The city is located in the centre of the Fucino Plateau between 690 and 740 m a.s.l,. and is the starting point for any excursion in the Marsica, being practically at the centre of it.

Avezzano vista dall’alto. (Immagine personale)

Nowadays Avezzano appears as a modern and rapidly expanding city, the result of the great reconstruction work following the terrible 1915 earthquake and the serious 1944 bombing. Even if it does not seem, Avezzano has a long history behind it, going back to the Roman period. In fact, the nucleus of the village that would later become Avezzano would take its origin from the works for the construction of the Emissary of Fucinus (the Tunnels of Claudius).

Practically, during the works of the emissary first under Claudius (between 41 and 52 AD), and then under Trajan and Adriano, who completed the hydraulic work, there was the need to build a camp where to accommodate technicians, workers, soldiers and all those dedicated to the work.

The camp is built near the construction site, in a fundus belonging to the gens Vettia, a family name which is repeatedly present in the history of ancient Marsica. Hence the provisional name of the camp Ad Vettianum fundum, (literally “At the Vettianus camp”) from which the current name of Avezzano would then descend.

The camp, initially made up of shacks, would develop with masonry buildings. Today nothing remains of that ancient village, while the magnificent hydraulic work of the Tunnels of Claudius remains, which, restored by Alessandro Torlonia many centuries later, is still partly used to divert the waters of the large Fucinus Lake.

Avezzano is one of the many Italian municipalities where an ancient heart is hidden beneath a patina of modernity, which emerges with all its charm with a watchful glance. Here, in fact, there is the large archaeological park of the Tunnels of Claudius which, as just mentioned, represent the largest hydraulic engineering work in the Roman world. This work can be visited today and deserves to be known, if only to understand the great human work that was behind it.

Avezzano is ideal for a settled vacation in Marsica, as it allows an easy and fast connection with the many villages and towns on the surrounding hills and mountains, such as Celano, Tagliacozzo, Ovindoli, Pescasseroli, Trasacco, etc. The presence of a rich series of cultural, sporting and food and wine events, especially in summer, allows to fully experience a comfortable, relaxing and full of emotions holiday.

On the sporting level, Avezzano has highly modern sports facilities and well-equipped public parks within easy reach, where you can enjoy cross-country running and cycling, both uphill and on the plain. Around the city there are several riding stables where you can practice horse riding, but also outdoor swimming pools where you can swim and enjoy the sun. Then if you want to immerse yourselves in the nature of Marsica, you can participate in the numerous climbing or mountain walks organized in the nearby centres.

In the evening, the rich Avezzanese nightlife completes the tourist picture, offering a pleasant discovery both for families and for young people, who certainly have nothing to be bored with, given the presence of the various discos, which in the summer move outdoors in the many celebrating Marsican villages.

Avezzano is easily accessible from both the A24 and the A25 Motorways of which it is an integral part. Avezzano can also be reached from the Valle del Liri State Road 182, from the Avezzano – Sora Highway and from the Via Tiburtina Valeria State Road 5. As to the railway connections, it is served by the Rome – Pescara railway and the Avezzano – Roccasecca railway. The connections with the Rome airports (Fiumicino and Ciampino) and the Pescara airport are just as easy. In these airports there are several shuttle buses that connect them with the town.

AVEZZANO

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