L’Aquila rewards visitors who appreciate medieval architecture, mountain landscapes, and a city that rebuilt itself with remarkable determination after the 2009 earthquake. The historic centre reopened to the public in stages between 2015 and 2022, and nearly all major landmarks are now accessible. Beyond the city walls, the Gran Sasso National Park offers some of the best hiking and climbing in the Apennines, with Corno Grande (2,912 m) towering over the region. Here are the essential things to do, from the 13th-century basilica that hosts a UNESCO-recognised papal pardon ceremony to the highest castle in Italy. For a broader look at which areas of town to focus on, see our L’Aquila neighborhoods guide. See our L’Aquila weather by month.
Things to Do in L’Aquila: Historic Landmarks
Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio
This 13th-century Romanesque-Gothic basilica is L’Aquila’s most important monument. Its pink-and-white stone facade features three rose windows and geometric patterns in the distinctive Abruzzese style. The interior holds the tomb of Pope Celestine V, the hermit-pope who issued a papal bull in 1294 granting a plenary indulgence (full pardon of sins) to anyone visiting the basilica on August 28-29. This Perdonanza Celestiniana is now a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event and the oldest jubilee in Christian history, predating the Roman Jubilee by six years. The basilica was heavily damaged in 2009 but reopened in 2017 after a meticulous restoration. Entry is free. Open daily 9:00-18:00 (reduced hours in winter). The Holy Door opens only during the Perdonanza festival on August 28-29 each year. See our best time to visit L’Aquila.
Spanish Fort (Forte Spagnolo)
Built in 1534 under Spanish rule to assert control over the rebellious Aquilani, this massive rectangular fortress with four corner bastions now houses the Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo (MUNDA). The museum’s permanent collection includes a mammoth skeleton found near the city, a significant collection of Abruzzese medieval and Renaissance art, and rotating contemporary exhibitions. The fort survived both the 1703 and 2009 earthquakes with minimal damage thanks to its thick walls and clever engineering. Entry costs 4 EUR (2 EUR reduced). Open Tuesday to Sunday 8:30-19:30. The courtyard hosts summer concerts and the Perdonanza opening ceremony. Allow 90 minutes for the museum. See our L’Aquila events and festivals.
Fountain of 99 Spouts (Fontana delle 99 Cannelle)
Built in 1272, this trapezoidal fountain on the city’s western edge features 99 stone masks (cannelle) carved in a mix of human and animal faces, each spout pouring water into a long trough. Local legend says the 99 spouts represent the 99 castles that founded L’Aquila in the 13th century, with the unknown 100th representing the unified city. The water is drinkable and sourced from the nearby Santanza spring. The fountain sits near the Porta Rivera gate and is lit at night. It’s a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Duomo. Free to visit, open 24/7. The adjacent rose garden adds colour from May through October. See our L’Aquila neighborhoods guide.
Basilica of San Bernardino
This 15th-century Renaissance basilica holds the tomb of Saint Bernardino of Siena, who died in L’Aquila in 1444. The facade by Cola dell’Amatrice (1525) is considered the finest Renaissance work in Abruzzo, with three orders of columns and a central rose window. The gilded wooden ceiling by Ferdinando Mosca (1723) and the Mausoleo Camponeschi by Silvestro dell’Aquila are the interior highlights. The basilica reopened in 2015 after post-earthquake restoration. Free entry. Open daily 7:30-12:00 and 16:00-19:00. The monumental staircase leading up from the Via Roma side makes for a dramatic photo. See our where to stay in L’Aquila.
Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Anime Sante)
This 18th-century Baroque church on Piazza del Duomo became the symbol of the 2009 earthquake when its dome collapsed on camera during the initial shock. The rebuilt dome, completed in 2018, is a near-exact replica using original stone patterns and stands as a powerful symbol of the city’s recovery. The interior features a memorial chapel listing the 309 victims of the earthquake. Free entry. Open daily 8:00-12:00 and 16:00-19:00. The piazza itself serves as the city’s main gathering space with several cafes and the Duomo (Cathedral of Saints Maximus and George) on the opposite side. See our L’Aquila travel tips and FAQ.
Things to Do in L’Aquila: Outdoor Activities and Mountain Nature
Gran Sasso National Park
The Gran Sasso massif dominates the skyline 20 km northeast of L’Aquila and contains the highest peak in the Apennines, Corno Grande (2,912 m). The park covers 1,413 sq km across three regions. From L’Aquila, the main access points are Fonte Cerreto (20 km, cable car to Campo Imperatore at 2,130 m) and Assergi (15 km, park visitor centre with trail maps and ranger advice). The Campo Imperatore plateau, nicknamed “Little Tibet,” is a 27 km-long high-altitude plain at 1,600-2,100 m where wild horses graze and the views stretch to the Adriatic on clear days. Day hikes range from the easy 2-hour loop around Rifugio Campo Imperatore to the demanding 6-7 hour ascent of Corno Grande via the normal route (requires helmet and good fitness; via ferrata equipment recommended for the western summit). The park visitor centre in Assergi (open daily 9:00-17:00 in summer, weekdays only in winter) has free trail maps. The cable car from Fonte Cerreto to Campo Imperatore runs daily in summer 8:30-17:30 (round trip 12 EUR) and on weekends in winter for ski access.
Campo Felice Ski Resort
Located 35 km south of L’Aquila near Rocca di Cambio (the highest comune in the Apennines at 1,434 m), Campo Felice is the region’s most developed ski area with 40 km of pistes served by 12 lifts. The resort sits at 1,550-2,060 m and offers a mix of beginner, intermediate, and a few advanced runs. Night skiing runs on a 2 km floodlit piste on Friday and Saturday evenings from January to early March. A day lift pass costs 35 EUR (weekend) or 30 EUR (weekday). Ski rental shops operate in the base village. The ski season typically runs from mid-December through late March, snow conditions permitting. Even in summer, the plateau around Campo Felice offers easy meadow walks with wide mountain views.
Rocca Calascio
Thirty-five kilometres east of L’Aquila, Rocca Calascio is the highest fortress in Italy at 1,460 m. The 10th-century stone tower and surrounding walls sit on a rocky ridge with 360-degree views of the Gran Sasso to the north and the Campo Imperatore plateau to the west. It has appeared in several films including Ladyhawke (1985) and The Name of the Rose (1986). The fortress is free to visit and accessible year-round, though the access road from the village of Calascio (1 km below) can be icy in winter. Combine it with a visit to the neighbouring fortified medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (8 km), an albergo diffuso (scattered hotel) where restored 15th-century houses function as hotel rooms. The drive from L’Aquila takes 45 minutes on the SS17bis.
Things to Do in L’Aquila: Food Culture and Day Trips
Arrosticini and Abruzzese Food Culture
L’Aquila and the surrounding Abruzzo region are famous for arrosticini: small skewers of mutton or lamb grilled over charcoal and eaten by the dozen. The classic version uses cubes of adult sheep meat (not lamb) alternating with chunks of fat, cooked on a narrow rectangular grill called a fornacella. Local restaurants serve them in sets of 10-20 skewers (roughly 0.80-1.20 EUR per skewer). Pair them with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo red wine and grilled bread drizzled with local extra virgin olive oil. Other local specialities include spaghetti alla chitarra (square-cut pasta made on a stringed tool called a chitarra), lenticchie di Santo Stefano di Sessanio (small brown lentils from the mountain village), and torrone tenero al cioccolato (soft chocolate nougat from nearby Sulmona). The city’s main food street is Via delle Strette, just off Piazza del Duomo, where 5-6 small eateries serve arrosticini and local wine at shared outdoor tables from spring through autumn.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
This perfectly preserved medieval hilltop village 30 km east of L’Aquila (35-minute drive on the SS17bis) is one of Italy’s borghi più belli (most beautiful villages). The entire settlement was bought and restored in the early 2000s as an albergo diffuso by Italian-Swedish entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren, who converted abandoned stone houses into hotel rooms while preserving the original architecture. Wander the narrow cobblestone lanes, climb the 12th-century Medici tower for 2 EUR (panoramic views of the Gran Sasso and Campo Imperatore), and eat at Locanda Sotto gli Archi (house-made pasta, local lamb, roughly 25-35 EUR per person). The village is particularly atmospheric in October when chestnut vendors set up in the piazza. Park in the lot below the village (3 EUR) and walk up; the village is car-free.
Sulmona and Confetti
Sulmona, 55 km southeast of L’Aquila (50-minute drive on the SS5/A25), is the world capital of confetti: sugar-coated almonds traditionally given at Italian weddings and baptisms. The town’s confetti factories, particularly Confetti Pelino (founded 1783) and Confetti Di Carlo, offer free factory tours and shops with every colour and flavour imaginable. Confetti Pelino’s museum (free entry, Via Stazione Introdacqua 55) shows historic machinery and packaging. Beyond confetti, Sulmona’s Piazza Garibaldi is one of the largest piazzas in central Italy, with a 13th-century aqueduct running through it, and the surrounding Majella National Park offers hiking comparable to the Gran Sasso but with fewer visitors. Sulmona is also the birthplace of the Roman poet Ovid (43 BCE); a bronze statue of him stands on Corso Ovidio, the main street.
