Avezzano

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Comune di Avezzano
Coat of arms of Comune di Avezzano
Municipal coat of arms

Location of Avezzano in Italy
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Abruzzo
Province L'Aquila (AQ)
Elevation 695 m (2,280 ft)
Area 104.05 km² (40 sq mi)
Population (as of 2007)
 - Total 40,651
 - Density 391/km² (1,013/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 42°2′28″N, 13°26′23″E
Gentilic Avezzanesi
Dialing code 0863
Postal code 67051
Frazioni frazioni: Antrosano, Castelnuovo, Cese, Paterno, San Pelino; borgate: Caruscino, Incile, Via Nuova [1]
Patron Madonna of Pietraquaria
 - Day 27 April
Website: http://www.comune.avezzano.aq.it/

Avezzano is a town and comune in the Abruzzo region, province of L'Aquila. It is the main commercial, industrial and agricultural centre of the Marsica area, with high-tech industries such as a large Micron Technology semi-conductor plant, and a Telespazio satellite groundstation.

The Castle of Avezzano in a 19th century etching.
The Castle of Avezzano in a 19th century etching.

Contents

[edit] History

There are two common etymologies for the name of the town: from "Ave Jane", an invocation to the Roman God Janus and from "Ad Vetianum" which means a "to the Vetia family", domiciled in the nearby town of Alba Fucens. The first settlements in this area began with the construction works for the lake's drainage ordered by Emperor Claudius in the first century CE. In the 15th century Avezzano was under Gentile Virgilio Orsini, who built the castle in 1490.

Avezzano once lay on the shores of the largest lake in central Italy, Lake Fucino, drained in the late 19th century; after the draining of the Lake, thanks to the wide fields now available for cultivation the area underwent a terrific growth, but was completely destroyed by the possibly worst recorded earthquake in the history of Italy, on the early morning of January 13, 1915: only Casa dei Palazzi and a wing of Castle Orsini were spared. More than 12,000 people died.

The town was then completely rebuilt along straight, parallel streets, with wide green areas and fine villas in the "Liberty" style.

[edit] Frazioni

There are 1800 Sampelinesi in San Pelino. The village takes its name from Vescovo Pelino after his election in Rome.[citation needed]

[edit] Main sights

  • Orsini Castle

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Comune di Avezzano (AQ). Prometheo Srl. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.