Avezzano
Encyclopedia
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 Micron Technology
semi-conductor plant, and a large Telespazio
satellite farm
.
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 peninsular 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 Orsini Castle 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.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
region, province of L'Aquila
Province of L'Aquila
thumb|left|200px|Map of the province.The Province of L'Aquila is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated province of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It comprises about half the landmass of Abruzzo and occupies the western part of the region...
. It is the main commercial, industrial and agricultural centre of the Marsica
Marsica
Marsica is a geographical area in the Abruzzo, central Italy, including 37 comuni in the province of L'Aquila, the most important of which is Avezzano. It is located between the plain of the former Lake Fucino, the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, the plain of Carsoli and the valley of...
area, with high-tech industries such as a Micron Technology
Micron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Boise, Idaho, USA, best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices. This includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, SSD and CMOS image sensing chips. Consumers may be more familiar with its consumer brand Crucial...
semi-conductor plant, and a large Telespazio
Telespazio
Telespazio is a space systems services company, based in Rome, Italy. Telespazio was founded in 1961; however the company as it exists today was formed on July 1 2005 with the merger of the original Telespazio with the space services division of Alcatel...
satellite farm
Antenna farm
Antenna farm or satellite dish farm or just dish farm are terms used to describe an area dedicated to television or radio telecommunications transmitting or receiving antenna equipment, such as C, Ku or Ka band satellite dish antennas, UHF/VHF/AM/FM transmitter towers or mobile cell towers.In...
.
History
There are two common etymologies for the name of the town: from "Ave Jane", an invocation to the Roman God JanusJanus (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past...
and from "Ad Vetianum" which means a "to the Vetia family", domiciled in the nearby town of Alba Fucens
Alba Fucens
Alba Fucens was an ancient Italic town occupying a lofty situation at the foot of the Monte Velino, c. 6.5 km north of Avezzano, Abruzzo, central Italy. Its remains are today in the comune of Massa d'Albe....
. 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 peninsular 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
1915 Avezzano earthquake
The 1915 Avezzano earthquake or 1915 L'Aquila earthquake occurred on January 13 in southern Italy, near the city of L'Aquila. The epicenter was located in the town of Avezzano in southern Italy...
in the history of Italy, on the early morning of January 13, 1915: only Casa dei Palazzi and a wing of Orsini Castle 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.
Frazioni
There are 1800 Sampelinesi in San Pelino. The village takes its name from Vescovo Pelino after his election in Rome.Main sights
- Alba FucensAlba FucensAlba Fucens was an ancient Italic town occupying a lofty situation at the foot of the Monte Velino, c. 6.5 km north of Avezzano, Abruzzo, central Italy. Its remains are today in the comune of Massa d'Albe....
- Fucine LakeFucine LakeThe Fucine Lake was a large lake in central Italy, stretching from Avezzano in the northwest to Ortuccio in the southeast, and touching Trasacco in the southwest. It was drained in 1875.-Roman drainage:...
area - Monte VelinoMonte VelinoMonte Velino is a mountain in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, central Italy, part of the Abruzzo Apennines. Located nearby the boundary with Lazio, between the Fucino plain and the Aterno, Salto and Velino rivers' valleys, it is the highest peak in the sub-chain known as Velino-Sirente, and...
- TelespazioTelespazioTelespazio is a space systems services company, based in Rome, Italy. Telespazio was founded in 1961; however the company as it exists today was formed on July 1 2005 with the merger of the original Telespazio with the space services division of Alcatel...
satellite farmAntenna farmAntenna farm or satellite dish farm or just dish farm are terms used to describe an area dedicated to television or radio telecommunications transmitting or receiving antenna equipment, such as C, Ku or Ka band satellite dish antennas, UHF/VHF/AM/FM transmitter towers or mobile cell towers.In...
Notable births
- Paola ConciaPaola ConciaAnna Paola Concia is an Italian politician and gay rights activist. She was the first openly lesbian member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.-Biography:...
, politician - Gianni LettaGianni LettaGianni Letta is an Italian ex politician and journalist.After graduating in law, he started working as a journalist for several daily newspapers, as well as RAI and ANSA....
, politician and journalist - Mario PescanteMario PescanteMario Pescante is an Italian politician and entrepreneur. He is a vice president of the International Olympic Committee and president of Rome's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.-Biography:...
, politician and entrepreneur - Vito TacconeVito TacconeVito Taccone was an Italian former road cyclist.Born in Avezzano, he made his professional debut in 1961. In the same year he won the Giro di Lombardia...
, cyclist