Things to Do and See in L’Aquila

L’Aquila, the capital of the province of the same name, immediately began work to secure and restore its buildings and monuments following the devastating earthquake of April 2009, demonstrating great determination. The heart of the city is Piazza del Duomo, known as Piazza del Mercato, where the city market has been held since as far back as 1303. Among the must-see sites is the Castle, built in 1534 as a place of refuge against a rebellion by citizens who, during Spanish rule, intended to ally themselves with the French. The Fountain of the 99 Chains is the very symbol of the city; designed by architect Tancredi Da Pentima in 1272 to commemorate all the castles from which the city originated, it features 99 masks from which water flows. The Spanish Fortress, built in 1534, is one of the city’s most distinctive structures. Notable religious buildings include the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio and the Basilica of San Bernardino. Elsewhere in the province, charming towns worth visiting include Castel di Sangro, home to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the second half of the 10th century; and Sulmona, birthplace of the Latin poet Ovid, which boasts numerous monuments and works of art. The city is also famous for its confetti. And then there are Tagliacozzo and Scurcola Marsicana, places steeped in history that tell the story of the rivalries between the Swabians and the Angevins.