Italian Political Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names Further reading

L'Aquila

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

L'Aquila or L'Aquila degli Abruzzi , city (1991 pop. 66,813), capital of L'Aquila prov. and of Abruzzi , central Italy, on the Pescara River. It is an agricultural and industrial center, and a summer resort. Manufactures include construction equipment, furniture, copper goods, glass, apparel, and pasta. L'Aquila is situated at the foot of the Gran Sasso d'Italia mountain group and is a popular base for mountain climbing.

Built around a castle (13th–16th cent.), it rose to importance in the 13th cent. and later became the second city of the kingdom of Naples. However, the city's influence declined during the wars of the 16th cent. Despite several devastating earthquakes and destructive air raids during World War II, L'Aquila has retained its medieval fortifications and a number of impressive old buildings, including St. Bernardino's Basilica (15th–16th cent.). The city again suffered significant widespread damage during the Apr., 2009, earthquake. There is a university in the city.

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L'Aquila

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

L'Aquila, Abruzzo/Italy Aquila degli Abruzzi A province and a city founded c.1240 on the order of Frederick II^†, Holy Roman Emperor, who gave it an imperial eagle, aquila, for its emblem from which the town took its name. The former name meant ‘Eagle of the Abruzzi (Mountains)’ and was in use 1863–1939.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "L'Aquila." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "L'Aquila." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-LAquila.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "L'Aquila." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-LAquila.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	L'Aquila after the earthquake: the Italian authorities are rightly focusing... Magazine article from: Apollo; 6/1/2009
	Angel of L'Aquila; Efforts to help quake ravaged city.(News) Newspaper article from: The Mirror (London, England); 10/26/2009
	My debt to Italy's quake town; Wirral PoW saved by L'Aquila residents in WW2. Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 4/8/2009