Avezzano Attractions

A worth-while trip is from L'Aquila to Avezzano. The road winds up the northeast slopes of Monte d'Orce (2,206m/7,280ft), with many bends and fine retrospective views, and continues through the wide high valley between Monte Velino on the right and Monte Sirente on the left, with a number of villages which are popular summer and winter resorts. It then winds its way downhill, with attractive views of the little town of Celano (800m/2,640ft), with the ruins of an old church and a castle (Castello Piccolomini), and the wide Fucino basin. In the western part of the Fucino basin, formerly a lake which was drained in 1875, lies Avezzano (698m/2,291ft; pop. 35,000). The town was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1915 which claimed 30,000 lives. After being rebuilt it was again damaged in the Second World War. Worth a visit are the local museum and the museum of rural culture. Note also the gateway to Orsini castle, built in 1490 by Virgilio Orsini and restored after the earthquake.