Scoppito
Scoppito: A mountain municipality in Abruzzo
If you are looking for an authentic village in central Italy, Scoppito might be the right place for you. This municipality in Abruzzo, located in the province of L'Aquila, has about 3,000 inhabitants and is part of the Amiternina mountain community.
Physical Geography
Scoppito is located at the foot of Mount Calvo, a mountain group that rises 1,898 meters above sea level. The municipal territory develops in the western part of the Aquila basin, about 13 kilometers from the capital. It borders one third with Lazio and for the remaining part with the neighboring municipalities of L'Aquila (Sassa and Preturo) and Tornimparte.
The territory, which has 13 hamlets, is mainly made up of hills. However, the area is quite accessible, with a minimum altitude of 670 meters, which has allowed the settlement of numerous small and medium-sized enterprises in the area. For example, near State Road 17, there is the multinational Sanofi, belonging to the pharmaceutical hub of Conca Aquilana.
Climate
The climate of Scoppito is typically continental with strong daily and annual temperature variations. Winter is cold and sometimes snow is not missing even in the valley floor. Autumn is the most rainy season followed by spring. Summer is usually hot and dry.
History
Scoppito has a long history dating back to the times of the Sabines, who founded the village near the present district of Vigliano. Later, some of the people moved to Amiternum, another location in L'Aquila. In Roman times, the village moved to nearby Foruli, today the district of Civitatomassa.
During the Middle Ages, the village was rebuilt ex novo and equipped with fortification walls. An abbey dedicated to San Bartolomeo was also erected, located near the farmhouse. However, the town was shaken by two major earthquakes, the 1461 Aquila earthquake and that of 1703.
In 1956, the famous Aquiline Mammoth fossil was found in the municipal countryside, now exhibited in the National Museum of Abruzzo.
Civic emblem
The municipal identity of Scoppito is represented by its emblem, which reflects pride in local history and traditions. The emblem consists of a blue shield, with two vertical stripes alternating with three ears of corn, in gold, topped by a crenellated tower crown, as contained in the Statutes. The colors used represent the territory of the municipality, gold the prosperity of the wheat, blue the clarity of the sky.
2009 earthquake
In 2009, the city was severely hit by the L'Aquila earthquake, which caused the rupture and destruction of many homes and rural houses in the area. However, thanks to the law approved by the Silvio Berlusconi government, new houses were built near the Sant'Elia district, an encouragement to the population to rebuild the life of the village and fight sadness with the assistance of public entities and the community.
In conclusion, Scoppito is a small village that offers a great variety of attractions, from the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes to its rich history and local traditions. If you want to discover a portion of authentic and genuine Italy, Scoppito is definitely one of the most fascinating villages in Abruzzo.
