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"Un mare di cultura"
a sea of culture
In a valley, surrounded by the highest mountains of the
Appennines, is one of the main historical and artistic centers
of Abruzzo. |
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L'Aquila is a bustling city with both medieval and
modern style as home to a major university, a musical conservatory,
arts academy, theater, concert society and library. Legend has it
that residents of 99 castles built 99 churches, squares and fountains
inside the city walls so the city would thrive.
Some historic symbols of L'Aquilas rich heritage are the "Fountain
of Ninety-nine Spouts", built in 1272; the massive 16th century
Spanish castle still intact; the Basilica of St. Bernardine, the greatest
Renaissance church in Abruzzo; and the church of Santa Maria Collemaggio,
the splendid example of Abruzzi Romanesque architecture. The castle
is also home to a paleontology section boasting a nearly complete
skeleton of a 1,000,000 year old elephas commonly called a mammoth.
Whether walking down the narrow streets to find hidden treasures or
taking an excursion to the Gran Sasso, the highest peak on the peninsula,
L'Aquila is truly a sea of culture. |
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Copyright
© 2006 Baci D'Italia.
All Rights Reserved.
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The church bells ring, it's six o'clock in
the morning and the small town begins to wake up. You stand
at the window and watch the sun creep over the distant hills.
Pink hazy light fills the horizon; within minutes, patches
of green come to life in the valley below. The piazza fills
with people greeting each other as they head off to work or
school. |
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All over Italy, this is how the day begins.
Hundreds of medieval towns caught in the struggle to fit into
a fast-changing world while holding onto their unique charm.
People gather to share their opinions on world events as well
as sharing the small things that make up their daily lives.
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| The Italians stop and take time to visit with
each other in person, sitting in piazzas or at a café,
life slows down and finds its roots.
The balance we all look for is here, at times intense with
passion, but always coming back to what's most important
- relationships. |
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