Gioia dei Marsi
Discovering Gioia dei Marsi
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about Gioia dei Marsi, a small town in the province of L'Aquila, located between the Fucino basin and the Giovenco valley. With its slightly more than 1,700 inhabitants, it is a quiet place, immersed in nature, which represents one of the gateways to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
Gioia dei Marsi's geographic location
Gioia dei Marsi is located at an altitude of 725m and borders the municipalities of Bisegna, Lecce nei Marsi, Ortona dei Marsi, Ortucchio, Pescasseroli and Pescina. The territory extends along the mountain slope of the Giovenco valley and represents one of the accesses of the Marsica Fucense to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. To be precise, its hamlets, Gioia Vecchio and Sperone, are located above the town, beyond the Macrana gorge, while the Devil's Pass connects the Marsican area with the Upper Sangro valley.
Water in Gioia dei Marsi
The presence of water is fundamental for the life and beauty of Gioia dei Marsi: at 1441m there are the sources of the Sangro, the second-longest river in the Abruzzo region. On the Valle Caprara mountain, instead, there is the Puzza spring. In the southern sector of the municipal territory there is the waterfall of Acqua Ventilata, a spectacle that does not leave one indifferent.
The origin of Gioia dei Marsi
It is not clear where the name of this Abruzzese municipality comes from. It is thought that it may derive from the name "Iovia", which in turn derives from the cult of the Italic and "Jupiter (divinity)". Alternatively, the name could derive from the Marsica dialect "Iovo", meaning "yoke", and would therefore be attributable to a geomorphic transfer. Other sources, on the other hand, suggest that the toponym "Gioia" derives from the happiness of the inhabitants of the original hamlets who, during the Middle Ages, joined together to constitute or enlarge the center located in the heights.
The history of Gioia dei Marsi
The traces and ruins of the Vicus ("ocres" in the Marsic language) of Popoli of ancient Italy and Roman history of Vico, Rotale, La Castelluccia and Templo are present in several points of the municipal territory. In addition, various castle-enclosures constituted a fortified defense system in the Middle Ages.
The beauty of Gioia dei Marsi
Gioia dei Marsi is an ideal stop for nature and hiking lovers. With its trails and valleys, it is an ideal place for those seeking peace and serenity away from the bustle of the cities. Furthermore, on the borders of the Lecce municipality, there is the naturalistic area of Cicerana and the ancient beech forest of Selva Moricento, recently recognized as a World Heritage Site. Not far from the municipal border, in the Bacinetto locality, is located the Fucino Space Center, the largest teleport in the world for civil use.
If you are looking for a peaceful place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature, Gioia dei Marsi is the ideal destination for you. Come and discover it!
