Tagliacozzo

6th June 2015

Tagliacozzo is a small town and comune in the L'Aquila province, which I visited to understand some of the context of the main city. Architecturally, the town was quite similar to L'Aquila but featured many characteristics that were particular to this area, such as the arched shop fronts in the main square. Tagliacozzo is also defined by its location in the valley of two mountain ridges, which it nestles between and climbs very steeply. The historic part of the city is particularly beautiful, offering spectacular views and the feeling it has escaped being touched by modern development. The many important Palazzi have been converted for other uses, but everything here seems well cared for. However, the foot of mountain is over run by post-war urban sprawl, similar to that seen in L'Aquila's periphery, which appears to be steadily creeping up to the base of the historic centre as if it would overrun it.

Tagliacozzo was affected by the 1915 Avezzano earthquake. There are no apparent signs of this in the old town, but from a distance one can see large crucifixes on the ridge of the mountain overlooking the town which signify lives lost in that area.