Antrosano
Antrosano: an Abruzzese village between history and nature
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about Antrosano, a village of about 1,000 inhabitants in the municipality of Avezzano, in the province of L'Aquila, located in the beautiful region of Abruzzo. In this text, I will tell you something about the physical geography of this place, the origins of its name, its millennial history, and its archaeological treasures.
Physical geography
Antrosano is a mountain village, located about 4.5 kilometers north of Avezzano, and sits at 780 meters on the southern slope of the Albe hill (Massa d'Albe) that dominates the Alba Fucens archaeological site. To the north it borders Albe, to the west Cappelle dei Marsi, and to the southeast San Pelino. Like many other centers in the Marsica area, Antrosano is made up of an ancient part located uphill and characterized by the presence of the Church of Santa Croce (Antrosano) and a modern part situated downstream and not far from the A25 highway. To the north, the village is dominated by the peaks of Mount Velino.
Origins of the name
Several hypotheses have been put forward about the origin of the name Antrosano. According to the historian Muzio Febonio, author of the work "Historiae Marsorum", the toponym would derive from the cave where the sick were cured. Another hypothesis would be linked to the Latin term "drausia" (puddle), from which the dialect term "ndruscià" (to splash) derived, leading to the name in the dialects of the Marsica area of the village as "Ndrusciano".
History
Several historians argue that Antrosano belonged to the Marso people of "Lucus Angitiae" and not to the Alba Fucens people located in the territory of Equi, as the proximity of the two places might suggest. However, according to other historians and scholars, Antrosano was supposed to be located in the area of Equa influence and not in the Marsa area. In any case, the birth of the village of Antrosano is connected to the proximity with the military city of Alba Fucens, which counted about 40,000 inhabitants and recorded some problems related to overcrowding. For this reason, many inhabitants of the Roman colony chose to live in the surrounding areas where there was availability of usable spaces. The place where the original nucleus of Antrosano arose, near the Via Tiburtina Valeria, had some characteristics that have not changed: it offered shelter from the north winds coming from Mount Velino, was sunny, and offered a good view of Lake Fucino.
The village expanded, particularly from 41 to 52 AD, thanks to the many craftsmen who came to Marsica to build the Claudian tunnels and other works aimed at draining the lake basin wanted by Emperor Claudius. In the following years, Antrosano changed its rulers several times: it was part of the Lombard Kingdom of Italy, then of the Duchy of Spoleto, and finally of the Abbey of Montecassino. In the fifteenth century, it became part of the possessions of Cesare Borgia, and only in 1861 was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
Archaeological treasures
Thanks to its strategic position, Antrosano has preserved several archaeological treasures that tell its millennial history. The most important is undoubtedly the archaeological area of Alba Fucens, a Roman colony founded in the 2nd century BC on the shores of Lake Fucino. The archaeological area includes the theater, the amphitheater, the forum, the baths, the temple of Fortuna, the temple of Jupiter, the villas, and the houses where the Romans lived. A visit to this site is truly a fascinating experience that will allow you to immerse yourself in the daily life of the Roman era.
But it is not the only archaeological treasure in Antrosano: here you can also visit the Church of Santa Croce, which dates back to the twelfth century and preserves valuable medieval frescoes inside. Moreover, in the surroundings of Antrosano, you can admire the remains of the Tower of the Escaped, a medieval tower that was part of a system of fortifications devised by Frederick II of Swabia to defend the kingdom's borders.
In conclusion, Antrosano is a fascinating village that encloses a cultural and archaeological heritage of inestimable value. If you are in Abruzzo, you cannot miss a visit to this enchanting place.
