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South of the Pettorino hill of Alba Fucens, between the hamlet of Antrosano and the northern area of the city, there are the funerary monuments of Valle Solegara. The mausoleums located on the side of the original route of Via Valeria date back to the imperial era. In the same area, traces of tombs have emerged that most likely date back to between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, therefore prior to the construction of the Roman colony of Alba. Not far away, between the hamlets of Antrosano and Cappelle dei Marsi, there is the archaeological site of Cretaro-Brecciara, whose necropolis was brought to light during the construction work of the Avezzano intermodal hub. The tombs date back to between the 8th and 7th centuries BC, while other finds such as armor discs, ornamental female discs and pendants can be traced back to the Republican era.
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An archaeological site that occupies an elevated and well-fortified position. It was founded by Rome as a colony under Latin law in 304 BC, or according to other sources in 303 BC, in the territory of the Equi, close to that occupied by the Marsi, in a strategic position. It developed on a hill just north of the Via Tiburtina Valeria, an artery that was probably extended beyond Tibur in this same period. It was populated by 6,000 colonists who built, in the years immediately following their settlement, a first wall. It later became a place to confine important state prisoners, such as Syphax king of Numidia, Perseus king of Macedonia, Bituitus, king of the Arverni. Thanks to its location, the city was always considered strategically important, especially during the civil wars. For this reason it was attacked by the allies during the Social War, but remained faithful to Rome. In the post-war period, systematic excavations were undertaken for the first time to deepen historical and cultural knowledge of the city. The city is enclosed within a wall about 2.9 km long, largely preserved to the present day. The external walls are built with polygonal boulders perfectly set together and the surfaces are smooth. There is a single tower and two bastions protecting three of the four main gates. On one of these bastions there are phallic symbols that were supposed to ward off evil forces. On the northern side, a triple defensive line had been built for a length of approximately 140 metres, erected in different eras.
Laboratorio Artigiano Ennio Gentile
Exhibition of antique furniture, artistic decorations, antiques.
Bottega d'arte Archè
Since 1998, the workshop has been hosting collective exhibitions of contemporary art.
Galleria Comunale di Arte Moderna
Historical space of figurative art.
Exhibition space for emerging artists, contemporary art installations.
The manor was built in 1490 by Gentile Virginio Orsini on the remains of the pre-existing 12th century tower of the feudal lord Gentile di Palearia. Thanks to Marcantonio Colonna, who chose Avezzano among his residences, in the 16th century the castle was adapted to a fortified noble palace surrounded by a garden. Severely damaged by the 1915 earthquake and the bombings of 1944, it was restored in the 1990s based on a project by the architect Alessandro Del Bufalo after a long planning and bureaucratic process. On the first floor, the stage and stalls for theatrical performances and conferences were built, while some areas of the upper floor hosted the modern art gallery for several years. You can admire the models reproducing some historical areas of the city before the 1915 earthquake such as Piazza Castello and Palazzo Torlonia.