L'Aquila. Basilica of San Bernardino - 2019

2020

The church of San Bernardino is located at the end of the homonymous and scenic staircase, in the historic center of L'Aquila, about 600 m from the Spanish Fort. The construction of a church that worthily guarded the remains of San Bernardino da Siena (1380-1444) - the persuasive preacher of the Order of the Friars Minor who died in L'Aquila and proclaimed a saint in 1450 - was strongly desired by the influential friar Giovanni da Capistrano. At first the conventual friars opposed the construction of the church, however the works were started and completed between 1454 and 1472. The earthquake of 1703 seriously damaged the church, which was renovated according to the stylistic and architectural methods of the time. In 1946, at the behest of Pope Pius XII, the church received the honorary title of minor basilica.

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Abruzzo, Italy. Spectacular autumnal landscapes

Abruzzo is an Italian region located east of Rome, between the Adriatic and the Apennines. The hinterland is mostly made up of national parks and nature reserves. The region also includes medieval and Renaissance villages perched on the hills. The regional capital, L'Aquila, is a city surrounded by walls, damaged by the earthquake of 2009. The Costa dei Trabocchi, with its sandy coves, takes its name from the traditional fishing jetties.

Archaeological site of Alba Fucens

Alba Fucens is a site that arose in the 4th century BC in an elevated and well-fortified position, on approximately 34 hectares at 966 m above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Velino in Abruzzo.

L'Aquila (IPA: / ˈlakwila /, pronunciation, formerly Aquila until 1863 and Aquila degli Abruzzi until 1939) is an Italian town of 69 284 inhabitants, capital of the province of the same name and of the Abruzzo region. The city is located in the Abruzzo hinterland on the slope of a hill to the left of the Aterno river, in a predominant position with respect to the Gran Sasso massif, the homonymous basin and the Aterno valley, on an area of 467 km² which make it the ninth largest municipality in Italy. Divided into 59 districts and hamlets, part of its territory is included in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park and reaches over 2,000 meters above sea level.

Rio Verde waterfalls

Borrello, Chieti, Abruzzo. The Regional Nature Reserve and the WWF OASIS Cascate del Verde. It is a protected natural area of Abruzzo, established in 2001, which covers an area of approximately 287 hectares.

Pescara. La Nave fountain

One of the best-known and most identifying city monuments, the La Nave fountain was created by Pietro Cascella in 1986 in travertine marble. It was inaugurated on 4 July 1987

Mountain range which, compared to the Abruzzo National Park, extends from north to south and whose crests delimit the border between Lazio (west) and Molise (east). Due to its importance both from a naturalistic and faunistic point of view, the mountain range was inserted by presidential decree in the Abruzzo National Park in January 1990. It includes high altitude peaks that are around 2000 meters: Monte Meta (2241), Monte Metuccia, Coste dell'Altare, Monte Mare (2020), Monte Cavallo (2039), Monte Forcellone (2030). The Mainarde, like the rest of the Apennine mountains, are very ancient and of limestone origin. On them the erosion of winds and waters has left clear traces in gorges, gullies and beautiful potholes of the giants, the latter very clearly visible by anyone who looks out from the viewpoint of San Michele. Covered by dense arboreal vegetation (beech groves) up to an altitude of 1800-1900 meters, the Mainarde - beyond this altitude - offer a spectacular turf, ideal habitat for particular types of endangered fauna such as the Abruzzo chamois the Marsican brown bear, the Apennine wolf and the lynx.

Palena, Church of San Falco and Sant'Antonino

Parish church of the town, it was built in the 12th century, after the earthquake of 1706, it was built again, however maintaining the 14th century bell tower

Albe, Massa d’Albe. The church of San Pietro in Albe

The church of San Pietro in Albe stands on the hill of San Pietro, one of the three hills surrounding Alba Fucens, the Roman city founded in 304 BC at the foot of Mount Velino.

Pescara. Church of the Sacred Heart

It was built in 1886 in neo-Romanesque style. It has a main façade characterized by brick cladding. The interior has three naves, in neo-Romanesque style.

Sulmona. Church of San Filippo Neri

The construction of the church and oratory of San Filippo Neri began in the mid-17th century and was completed in 1677. However, in the beginning the congregation was based - together with that of the Jesuit Fathers - in the church of Sant'Ignazio , located in Piazza XX Settembre and no longer existing today; only later did it move to Piazza Maggiore - the current Piazza Garibaldi - within the lively and populous Borgo Pacentrano. The earthquake of 1706 forced a reconstruction of the complex, which Baron Giambattista Mazara magnanimously took charge of between 1785 and 1794, deserving the commemorative plaque placed on the right wall of the church; the adjoining convent had to assume considerable decorum, so much so that in 1796 it was even able to host King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon on a visit to the city. In 1799, with the suppression of the Filipino order, the Fathers left the city and the sacred building, abandoned and reduced to profane use, was transformed into an oven and also used for military purposes. Likewise, the oratory, confiscated by the Royal Property, had various uses and today is the headquarters of the Command of the Guardia di Finanza. Only in 1920 did the church regain its religious use, becoming the seat of the parish of Sant'Agata. From here the traditional demonstration of the Madonna fleeing into the square begins on Easter morning, the joyful conclusion of Holy Week in Sulmona.

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