Carsoli
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Comune di Carsoli | |
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 Municipal coat of arms |
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Abruzzo |
| Province | L'Aquila (AQ) |
| Mayor | Carlo Fedeli (since June 2004) |
| Elevation | 616 m (2,021 ft) |
| Area | 95 km² (37 sq mi) |
| Population (as of December 31, 2004) | |
| - Total | 5,235 |
| - Density | 55/km² (142/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Carsolani |
| Dialing code | 0863 |
| Postal code | 67061 |
| Frazioni | Colli di Montebove, Montesabinese, Pietrasecca, Poggio Cinolfo, Tufo Basso, Tufo di Carsoli, Villa Romana |
| Patron | Santa Vittoria |
| - Day | December 23 |
| Website: www.comune.carsoli.aq.it | |
Carsoli is a town and commune in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo (central Italy). The ancient Roman city lies 4 km southwest of the modern town.
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[edit] History
The city, known as Carsioli, was founded in the country of the Aequi between 302 and 298 BCE, just after the establishment of Alba Fucens, no doubt as a stronghold to guard the road to the latter. It is mentioned in 211 BCE as one of the twelve out of thirty Latin colonies which protested their inability to furnish more men or money for the war against Hannibal. It is known that, in 168 BCE, it was used as a place of confinement for political prisoners. It was sacked in the Social War, but probably became a municipium after it.
The modern town of Carsoli first appears in a diploma of 866 CE, but the old site does not seem to have been abandoned until the 13th century.
[edit] Main sights
The line of the city walls (originally in tufa, and reconstructed in limestone), built of rectangular blocks, can still be seen. There are remains of several ancient buildings, including the podium or base, of a temple, and also the ancient branch road from the Via Valeria. The forty-third milestone of the Via Valeria still lies at or near its original site; it was set up by Nerva in 97 CE.
Some 2 kilometers to the northwest of Carsioli are the remains of an ancient aqueduct consisting of a buttressed wall of concrete crossing a valley.
[edit] Modern town
The modern town of Carsoli, about 15 minutes east of Tivoli, near Rome, is a pleasant resort area with an altitude of about 1000 meters (3000 feet) where residents of Rome head in the summer to get away from the heat. The town contains numerous restaurants and hotels, but retains a generally relaxed country feel and is enjoyable for those who want to get away from the city.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- Carsoli city website
- Carsioli, A Description of the Site and the Roman Remains T. Ashby and G. J. Pfeiffer in Supplementary Papers of the American School in Rome, Vol. I, pp108‑140, transcribed at LacusCurtius.
