Interstellar
Aielli - 26 Via Risorgimento
Book now
From its elevated position, the town’s historic centre commands sweeping views over the valley below, once largely occupied by Lake Fucino, which was drained over the centuries. The entire municipal territory falls within the Velino-Sirente Regional Park and is surrounded by the towering peaks of the Sirente massif.
In the early 20th century, a devastating earthquake damaged the ancient centre, prompting the town to expand downhill near the railway station, creating what became known as Aielli Stazione. Today, Aielli retains two distinct districts – the medieval old town and the modern newer settlement – and has gained international recognition in recent years as the home of “Borgo Universo”, a celebrated street art festival.
The town consists of two distinct areas: Aielli Alto (home to the Town Hall) and Aielli Stazione, the 20th-century settlement built around the railway station. The historic centre is still accessed through three gateways – “Porta Montanara”, “Porta Jannetella” and “Porta Terra” – and throughout this quarter you’ll find well-preserved sites of significant historical interest and numerous viewing terraces offering spectacular panoramic vistas.
Aielli is also part of the Authentic Boroughs of Italy association and has served as a film location for several productions, including Carlo Lizzani’s Fontamara (1980) and Germano Di Mattia’s The Celestinian Code (2009).
Built in 1356 on the highest point of Aielli’s old town, the Medieval Tower was commissioned by Ruggero II, Count of the Marsi, on a site where traces of an earlier fortress had been discovered. In the 16th century, the Piccolomini family undertook extensive renovation work, adding Renaissance-style windows to the upper section. Since 2002, the tower has housed an astronomical observatory, earning it the nickname “tower of the stars”, and from 2019 it has also been home to the Moon Museum, which features a specialist scientific library.
The Church of the Holy Trinity was originally built in the mid-14th century but suffered serious damage in the 1915 earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt in a free “Byzantine-Romanesque” style. Its origins date to 1362, when Count Ruggero II of Celano had it constructed near Piazza dei Burgo, then the town centre. From the original building, only the portal and a coat of arms featuring a cross decorated with five moons – a Piccolomini symbol – have survived. The exterior façade is built of red brick, whilst the interior features three naves separated by substantial columns, an 18th-century statue of the Madonna della Vittoria and a 15th-century silver cross.
The Church of San Giuseppe stands in the Aielli Stazione district and was constructed during the Fascist era to designs by architect Giuseppe Vincenzo Vicari, who also created the nearby Casa Littoria with recreational facilities, a cinema and a hotel. Opened in 1937, the church was built in the rationalist style of the period and features outside a striking Pompeian red portal and an integrated bell tower. Inside, you’ll find statues of Sant’Adolfo and San Guido by Arturo Dazzi, three crucifixes in pure Bohemian crystal and an organ built in 1936 by the “Società anonima brevetti Barbieri per applicazioni elettro musicali”.
Filippo Angelitti (1856-1931) was an Italian astronomer from Aielli who spent over 20 years at the Capodimonte Observatory in Naples before becoming director of the Palermo Observatory and later professor of astronomy at Palermo University. In recognition of his achievements, the town dedicated Piazza Filippo Angelitti in the old centre to his memory, where a monument was unveiled in 1989. Created by sculptor Pasquale di Fabio and positioned directly opposite the Town Hall, the work depicts Angelitti’s face cut in bronze and surrounded by the orbits of the solar system’s planets.
Borgo Universo launched in 2017 as a festival combining street art and astronomy, aiming to tell the story of the town and its historical connections to the cosmos through artistic expression. Following the enormous success of the inaugural event, Borgo Universo has grown significantly and now takes place annually each August. With each new edition, more and more artists descend on the town to paint new narratives and stories throughout the streets, transforming it into what has become a true “open-air museum”.
Though not a large town, Aielli offers several accommodation options in both the old medieval quarter and the more modern Aielli Stazione district. You’ll find small, welcoming hotels and simple bed-and-breakfasts providing comfortable stays; alternatively, you could stay in nearby towns such as L’Aquila or Sulmona, both within easy day-trip distance.
Aielli is easily accessible by car or public transport. Those driving from Rome should take the A24 motorway towards L’Aquila, then join the A25 towards Pescara and exit at the Aielli-Celano junction. From Pescara, take the A25 motorway towards Rome and exit at the same Aielli-Celano junction.
The Strada Statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria, which connects Rome, Tivoli, Avezzano, Sulmona and Pescara, also passes through Aielli. The town has its own railway station on the Rome-Pescara line, and you can also reach the town via several bus routes operated by TUA (Società unica di trasporto abruzzese).
What's the weather at Aielli? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Aielli for the next few days.
Aielli is a charming Abruzzese town nestled within the Sirente-Velino Regional Nature Park, situated 25 km from Avezzano, 50 km from Sulmona and 68 km from L'Aquila.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
Resorts