 Altitude:
1007 m a.s.l -- Distance from L'Aquila: 57 km -- Population: ca.
1000 inhabitants -- Zip code: 67050 -- Phone Area Code: 0863 --
How to reach it: road: from Avezzano Autoroute A25, exit Avezzano,
then about 20 km south-east through Luco dei Marsi, Trasacco and
Collelongo
History
A number of archaeological findings show that the area was inhabited
in Italic times, but the present center surely rose in the XI century
as a fortified borough and was in the earlier Middle Ages first
under Count Ruggero d'Albe and later of the Count of Celano; in
1279, da Carlo D'Angió to Giovanni Matteo. In 1445 the centre
was called "Collis Longus cum Rocca di Arce" while the
present name appears only in the XVIII century. Other feudal Lords
were Girolamo Carducci, Clemente Sansonesi, Francesco Sacrati and
the Pignatelli family.
Sights & Excursions
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, outside the fortified borough,
the church dates back to the Xl century and was originally under
the Benedictine jurisdiction of Montecassino. The original structure
was very simple, one aisle and a circular apse; the belltower
was built in the XVI century, when also the inner frescoes were
made. Unfortunately both the 1915 earthquake and WW2 bombings
seriously damaged the original architecture and the frescoes.
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