L’Aquila: Art, History and Gran Sasso

L’Aquila combines art, religious history, archaeological evidence and excursions in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for your trip, you can decide on your preferred focus early on: MAXXI and several basilicas shape cultural days, while Amiternum, the Destinazione Gran Sasso route and the nearby Riserva naturale del Vetoio offer further excursion ideas.

Art and discoveries for different age groups

MAXXI L’Aquila is housed in Palazzo Ardinghelli. Its rooms contain works from the MAXXI collection as well as temporary exhibitions on art, architecture and photography. This allows a stay in L’Aquila to be complemented by contemporary and changing cultural themes, without restricting the trip to historic buildings.

MuNDA presents a selection of works from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The guided tours and discovery activities for children offered there are also of interest to families. Those travelling with children can thus combine a museum visit with an age-appropriate exploration of art and history. The Archaeological Park of Amiternum offers educational activities for families and school groups.

Amiternum and the basilicas of L’Aquila

The Archaeological Park of Amiternum offers more than a single historic structure. The theatre was first built there in the second half of the 1st century BC. The amphitheatre followed towards the end of the 1st century AD; there were also temples and other richly decorated buildings. This chronology helps you place the archaeological evidence specifically within a cultural and historical day of travel.

The Basilica di Collemaggio is characterised by the double white and pink colouring of the marble from Genzano di Sassa. According to tradition, Pope Celestine V was crowned there in 1294. The basilica also lies at the arrival and departure point of the Tratturo Magno between L’Aquila and Foggia. The celebration The Celestinian Forgiveness is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; the Perdonanza Celestiniana was introduced by Pope Celestine V in 1294.

The Basilica di San Bernardino also has its own distinct historical character. After being damaged by the 2009 earthquake, it was reopened to the public in 2015. Its interior is 100 metres long. At Forte Spagnolo, however, you should plan for the current restriction: it remains closed due to reconstruction. Visitors can nevertheless walk around the outside and view the architecture from the exterior.

Route, Gran Sasso and nature at Vetoio

For an excursion beyond the city walls, the Destinazione Gran Sasso route is a good option. It covers approximately 30 km in total and can be travelled by car and partly on foot. The route begins in L’Aquila city centre or at the exit of the A/24 motorway. Gran Sasso can be reached from L’Aquila by car or bus. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh up whether you would like to combine cultural sightseeing with an independent excursion into the mountain landscape.

Nearby is the Riserva naturale del Vetoio, where the Vetoio River forms a small lake. This natural site adds a quieter landscape experience to the selection. When looking for a holiday apartment in L’Aquila, you can therefore consider whether your days should be shaped primarily by museums and basilicas, archaeological educational activities, or excursions by car, bus and partly on foot. This allows you to align your choice of accommodation with your planned pace of travel without mixing individual experiences together.

Further destination ideas

If you would like to extend your search to other places, you will also find Stiffe, Campo Di Giove, San Demetrio Ne' Vestini, Scanzano, Tagliacozzo, Casentino, Santi and San Giovanni Valle Roveto Superiore.

For the higher-level travel overview: L-Aquila.