L'Aquila
L'Aquila (/ˈlækwɪlə/ LAK-wil-ə, Italian: [ˈlaːkwila] ⓘ; Neapolitan: [ˈlaːkwiːlə]) is a city and comune in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. As of 2023, it has a population of 69,558 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valley of the Aterno river, it is surrounded by the Apennine Mountains, with the Gran Sasso d'Italia to the north-east.
L'Aquila | |
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| Comune dell'Aquila | |
Piazza del Duomo with the L'Aquila Cathedral in the background | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Location of L'Aquila | |
L'Aquila Location of L'Aquila in Italy L'Aquila L'Aquila (Abruzzo) | |
| Coordinates: 42°21′N 13°24′E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Abruzzo |
| Province | L'Aquila |
| Frazioni | see list |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Pierluigi Biondi (FdI) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 473.91 km2 (182.98 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 714 m (2,343 ft) |
| Population (December 31, 2013) | |
| • Total | 70,967 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Aquilani |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 67100 |
| Dialing code | 0862 |
| Patron saint | St. Maximus, St. Equitius, St. Peter Celestine, St. Bernardino of Siena |
| Saint day | June 10 |
| Website | Official website |
L'Aquila sits upon a hillside in the middle of a narrow valley; tall snow-capped mountains of the Gran Sasso massif flank the town. A maze of narrow streets, lined with Baroque and Renaissance buildings and churches, open onto elegant piazzas. Home to the University of L'Aquila, it is a lively college town and, as such, has many cultural institutions: a repertory theatre, a symphony orchestra, a fine-arts academy, a state conservatory, a film institute. There are several ski resorts in the surrounding province (Campo Imperatore, Ovindoli, Pescasseroli, Roccaraso, Scanno).