Carsoli

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =Carsoli-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Carsoli
region = Abruzzo
province = L'Aquila (AQ)
elevation_m = 616
area_total_km2 = 95
population_as_of = december 31, 2004
population_total = 5235
population_density_km2 = 54
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|06|N|13|05|E
frazioni = Colli di Montebove, Montesabinese, Pietrasecca, Poggio Cinolfo, Tufo Basso, Tufo di Carsoli, Villa Romana
telephone = 0863
name=Carsoli
mapx=42.1|mapy=13.0858
postalcode = 67061
gentilic = Carsolani
saint = Santa Vittoria
day = december 23
mayor = Carlo Fedeli (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.carsoli.aq.it/ www.comune.carsoli.aq.it]

Carsoli is a town and commune in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo (central Italy). The ancient Roman city lies 4 km southwest of the modern town.

History

The city, known as "Carsioli", was founded in the country of the Aequi between 302 and 298 BCE, just after the establishment of Alba Fucens, no doubt as a stronghold to guard the road to the latter. It is mentioned in 211 BCE as one of the twelve out of thirty Latin colonies which protested their inability to furnish more men or money for the war against Hannibal. It is known that, in 168 BCE, it was used as a place of confinement for political prisoners. It was sacked in the Social War, but probably became a "municipium" after it.

The modern town of Carsoli first appears in a diploma of 866 CE, but the old site does not seem to have been abandoned until the 13th century.

Main sights

The line of the city walls (originally in tufa, and reconstructed in limestone), built of rectangular blocks, can still be seen. There are remains of several ancient buildings, including the podium or base, of a temple, and also the ancient branch road from the Via Valeria. The forty-third milestone of the Via Valeria still lies at or near its original site; it was set up by Nerva in 97 CE.

Some 2 kilometers to the northwest of Carsioli are the remains of an ancient aqueduct consisting of a buttressed wall of concrete crossing a valley.

Modern town

The modern town of Carsoli, about 15 minutes east of Tivoli, near Rome, is a pleasant resort area with an altitude of about 1000 meters (3000 feet) where residents of Rome head in the summer to get away from the heat. The town contains numerous restaurants and hotels, but retains a generally relaxed country feel and is enjoyable for those who want to get away from the city.

References

External links

* [http://www.comune.carsoli.aq.it/index.php Carsoli city website]
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Abruzzo/LAquila/Carsoli/Carsioli/Pfeiffer_and_Ashby_1905*/text.html Carsioli, A Description of the Site and the Roman Remains] T. Ashby and G. J. Pfeiffer in Supplementary Papers of the American School in Rome, Vol. I, pp108‑140, transcribed at LacusCurtius.