Avezzano: Nature, Trails and Culture

Avezzano brings together nature, outdoor activities and cultural history. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, you can start by considering whether you are more interested in the landscape and trails, the history of Lake Fucino, or cultural venues and events. Specific points of interest include the Monte Salviano Nature Reserve, the Ciclovia delle Stelle, museums, historic buildings and the Teatro dei Marsi.

Nature and trails

The Monte Salviano Nature Reserve covers about 720 hectares, all within the municipality of Avezzano. It has twelve walking trails with varying levels of difficulty and views of the Fucine Basin and Monte Velino. This gives you two specific criteria to consider when choosing: trail difficulty and views of the Fucine Basin and Monte Velino. You can compare the trails using these features rather than just by their number.

The Ciclovia delle Stelle is a cycling and walking route with green spaces and rest areas. At Monte Salviano, trail difficulty and views are key distinguishing features; the Ciclovia, by contrast, offers a cycling and walking route as well as green spaces and rest areas. You can therefore compare the options by considering different questions: difficulty and views on the one hand, and ways to get around and places to rest on the other.

History and culture

Avezzano’s urban centre includes the Cathedral of St Bartholomew and Piazza Risorgimento. Castello Orsini adds another historic landmark: in 1490, the Orsini family built it around a medieval castle; the Colonna family later remodelled it. Today, it hosts temporary exhibitions. The castle’s history and its current use for exhibitions offer different cultural perspectives.

The Aia dei Musei cultural complex explores the history of the project to drain Lake Fucino. It includes the Museo del Prosciugamento del Fucino, which recounts the history of this project. The lapidarium at Aia dei Musei displays artefacts dating back to the 4th century BC. Here, two different ways of exploring the past sit side by side: the history of the drainage project and artefacts dating back many centuries.

The Teatro dei Marsi is an important local venue for music and theatre. It also houses paintings and sculptures from the Pinacoteca d’arte moderna. This adds a connection to modern visual art to its role as a venue for the performing arts.

The Giardino romantico is another point of interest for nature lovers. It covers more than five hectares and features trees and plants of various species, including centuries-old specimens. While the trails and Ciclovia focus on outdoor activities and route features, here the focus is on the garden’s size and plant life.

Planning information

Avezzano’s tourist information point provides information about transfers within the city and to other areas, as well as timetables and public transport within the city and to the villages of the Marsica region. If you would like to plan your journeys in advance, you can ask there for information about the relevant transport services and timetables. This lets you consider journeys within the city and connections to the villages as separate parts of your plans.

Discover more destinations: Sulmona, Pacentro, Carsoli, Calascio, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Campo Di Giove, Balsorano Nuovo, Pescocostanzo

For the wider travel overview: L-Aquila.