Villavallelonga
Welcome to Villavallelonga!
Hello everyone! Today we're talking about a beautiful Italian municipality located in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo: Villavallelonga! Also known as "La Vìlla" in dialects of Marsica, the town has 832 inhabitants and is located within the territory of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
Discovering the Territory
Geography and Land
Villavallelonga is located on Colle dei Cerri, on the southern slope of Vallelonga, and borders to the south with Pescosolido, to the north with Collelongo and the Valle di Amplero, to the east with La Guardia di Lecce nei Marsi and to the west with Balsorano. The mountain range of Serra Lunga separates it to the west from Valle Roveto, while the Marsicani Mountains to the southeast define the border of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park area with Marsica Fucino. For hiking enthusiasts, the Aceretta pass is a wonderful place to discover for its breathtaking views and numerous outdoor activities.
The History of Villavallelonga
Origins
According to some archaeological evidence, the first inhabitants of the area were shepherds who arrived in the territory around 1600 BC. The territory of Villavalleonga would have belonged to the municipium of Lucus Angitiae and was part of some fortifications of Marsi, such as the vicus located near Aceretta. During the Middle Ages, it was called Rocca di Cerro or Rocca d'Acero from the name of the ancient castellum where the disappeared church of the 11th century was located.
From the Middle Ages to modern times
The town was subsequently called Villavallelonga, which refers to its geographical position, as it is built on the slopes of Mount Quaresima in Vallelonga. It was a fiefdom of the Berardi in the 12th century, of the Piccolomini County of Celano in the 16th century, of the dukes of Belforte, Patricians of Rome, until 1720, and finally of the Pignatelli dukes.
In 1873, a part of its reliefs formed the first nucleus of the royal reserve Alta Val di Sangro, a historic and geographic forerunner of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise national park. The Marsica earthquake of 1915 deeply marked the country, destroying the original urban nucleus and causing a high number of deaths.
Banditry in Villavallelonga
The history of Villavallelonga was marked by banditry, both before and after the unification of Italy. Many men from the area joined brigandage gangs to escape hunger, injustice, and poverty. In 1863, the brigand Sante De Pasquale, known as "the boss of the mountain", was killed. Even today, it is possible to find traces of this difficult period in the country's architecture of the time.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Villavallelonga is an Italian municipality rich in history and culture, located in an enviable position within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Its geographical location offers numerous opportunities for hiking and outdoor activities, and its historic architecture takes us back in time. If you are looking for a quiet and magical place to discover the beauty of Abruzzo, Villavallelonga is definitely worth a visit!
