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Home > Travel Italy > Italy Destinations > L'Aquila
L'Aquila
Italy, officially the Italian Republic or Repubblica Italiana, is a Southern European country comprising of the Po River valley, the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it lo Stivale, the boot or, due to its prevalent peninsular geographical nature, la Penisola, the Peninsula.
L'Aquila is one of Italy’s most popular destinations, and is well known for the quantity of cultural related attractions and monuments that the city has embraced. It is a commune of central Italy, on the Aterno River and is both the capital of the Abruzzo region and the seat of the province of L'Aquila. Located at the foot of the highest peaks in the Apennines hill and in the wide valley of the Aterno, the city is surrounded by mountains on all sides, the Gran Sasso d'Italia being noticeable on the north-east. It is also a popular summer resort and in the cold winter the city welcomes a great number of skiers, who stay in town while skiing at nearby resorts.
L'Aquila was founded by Frederick II who was a Roman emperor and king of Sicily. Initially called as Aquila, the name was chosen after the heraldic eagle in the Hohenstaufen arms. The construction of the city was completed in 1254 under Frederick's son, Conrad IV of Germany. The name was switched to Aquila degli Abruzzi in 1861, and finally L'Aquila in 1939.
Presently, L'Aquila has grown as the site of many electronic industries, and is the home of a rugby team that has won the Italian national championship five times. L’Aquila has some trade in lace and saffron, and possesses other smaller industries. It was a university town in the middle ages, but its university was concealed by the fascist government. However, the university was again resumed after the Second World War.
L'Aquila, justifiably so, enjoys a very positive reputation with worldwide travelers, and is one of the most visited places. It is also the place of best geographical environment and can trace its origin back to prehistoric times.
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