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Tagliacozzo - Via Giorgina 4
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Tagliacozzo is a captivating inland town in Abruzzo that proves to be the perfect destination for a journey combining history and nature. This location boasts a charming historic centre that unfolds at the foot of Monte Civita, whose summit is crowned by the ruins of an ancient medieval fortress and bastions.
The town’s name is believed to derive from the Latin words “talus” (cut) and “cotium” (rock), meaning “a cutting in the rock” – a reference to the fissure that divides the mountain on which the settlement developed. Although ancient artefacts have been discovered, the town itself is thought to have developed around three parishes (San Nicola, San Egidio and San Pietro) in the tenth century.
Between the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the territory comprised a castle in the uppermost part of Monte Civita with the town sprawling downwards all around it. In 1268, the famous Battle of Tagliacozzo took place here between Corradino of Swabia and Charles of Anjou, which ended in the latter’s victory. The episode is famous because it is also recounted by Dante in Canto XXVIII of the Inferno.
Today Tagliacozzo is a splendid village to be discovered by wandering through its narrow streets, steeped in history and culture. To truly appreciate the essence of this place, you must visit its oldest nucleus, found beyond the Roman arch. Here, amongst ancient houses, historic churches and artisan shops, you can step back through time.
For its charm and history, Tagliacozzo is part of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” circuit. The heart of the old town is Piazza dell’Obelisco, which is home to historic palaces and a loggia with round arches and Renaissance windows. Originally the square was surrounded by porticoes which were sealed up in the nineteenth century by Joachim Murat, who was King of Naples at the time. In the centre once stood the “pilozzo”, a stone bench where insolvent debtors were displayed, but now an elegant fountain occupies this spot. Access to the square is via Porta San Rocco to the north and Porta dei Marsi to the east.
Palazzo Ducale is considered the symbol of Tagliacozzo and was commissioned by the Orsini family, who ruled this territory for many years. Its current appearance is very different from the original, as the building has undergone several extensive alterations.
The first striking feature is that the palace has two storeys that are architecturally very different: the first displays late Gothic style, whilst the second shows more Renaissance characteristics. Inside there are elegantly decorated rooms, paintings of great value and a chapel where splendid late-Gothic frescoes depicting the life of Christ are still visible.
On a hilltop at the foot of Monte Arunzo stands the Santuario della Madonna dell’Oriente, which has housed since the thirteenth century an icon of the Madonna and Child from the East. According to an ancient tradition, Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian was destroying numerous religious works in Asia, but two sailors originally from Tagliacozzo managed to save the icon of the Madonna and bring it to the city intact.
The building we see today is the result of various restoration and renovation works carried out between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries, partly following the Marsica earthquake. The church features an irregular floor plan comprising three naves with the main altar reconstructed in 1978. The walls display frescoes by Raffaello Solmonte depicting scenes from the life of Saint Francis. The convent houses an oriental museum where you can admire ex-voto offerings dating from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries and invaluable archaeological finds from the Middle East.
Church of San Francesco was built towards the end of the thirteenth century, but was subsequently modified so extensively that it lost the simplicity and austerity characteristic of the Franciscan style, adopting a more Baroque aesthetic instead. Only in 1960 did restoration work restore its original sobriety. Inside are preserved many bronze and wooden works and the tomb of Blessed Thomas of Celano, the first biographer of Francis of Assisi. The convent’s cloister, dating from the seventeenth century, is also adorned with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Francis.
Teatro Talia was originally a Benedictine monastery which was suppressed by Pope Innocent X in 1652 and converted into a theatre in 1686. During the nineteenth century, significant restoration work was undertaken and the theatre was named after the muse Talia. Today you can admire from outside a sober yet elegant façade, while inside there are three tiers of boxes and approximately 200 seats. The theatre hosts seasons of drama, music and performances from the international midsummer festival.
Built between the eighth and tenth centuries, this religious complex is one of the oldest structures and also one of the richest in artefacts, though it has suffered numerous thefts and looting over the centuries. The church and monastery were long disputed between the papacy and the bishop of the Marsi.
It seems certain that the original church was much smaller than the current one and it is still unclear whether it was located outside or inside the monastic complex, where a cellar called “the old church” still stands.
At the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano, a painting donated by the Colonna family to the town is still preserved, depicting the suffering Face of Christ imprinted on Veronica’s veil.
Tagliacozzo Castle was built between the tenth and twelfth centuries by the counts of the Marsi at 998 metres altitude on the summit of Monte Civita. The site on which this fortress was constructed likely previously hosted another structure that served to watch for approaching enemies and defend the city.
The remains we can see today of the Castle display a square floor plan with four corner watchtowers. Inside there is a large courtyard surrounded by the ruins of the defensive walls. Beside the fortress are the ruins of the Church of Santa Cecilia.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Tagliacozzo is a small village in the Marsia region that does not boast many hotel facilities. The town has a few hotels and bed and breakfasts where you can stay.
Most visitors choose to visit Tagliacozzo on a day trip from larger nearby towns such as L’Aquila, Celano or Avezzano. These locations offer far more accommodation options.
Tagliacozzo can be easily reached by car. Those coming from L’Aquila should travel along the A24 motorway until the Magliano dei Marsi exit and then take the State Road 5/SR5. Those travelling from Avezzano can reach the town in less than half an hour by following the SR5 towards Tagliacozzo.
The town can also be reached by train thanks to two railway stations: Tagliacozzo station and that located near the Villa San Sebastiano hamlet. Both stations lie along the Rome-Pescara railway line which passes through the provinces of Rome, L’Aquila, Chieti and Pescara.
What's the weather at Tagliacozzo? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Tagliacozzo for the next few days.
Tagliacozzo is an Abruzzese town situated in the western part of the Marsica region, just a short distance from the Lazio border. The town lies 18 km from Avezzano, 57 km from L'Aquila and 127 km from Pescara.
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