Exploring Alba Fucens: A Hidden Roman Treasure in the Heart of Abruzzo
Parks, lakes, mountains, caves, coasts, and other breathtaking beauties, as well as historical testimonies of immense value, can all be found within the borders of Abruzzo, a small but fascinating region in the heart of Italy. The ancient city of Alba Fucens lies hidden in the mountains.
Located in the municipality of Massa d’Albe, the “little Pompeii” is what is left of a Roman colony and is now a great place to go for a stroll in the fresh air.
A key Roman colony: the history
The excavations of the Belgian Academy between 1949 and 1979, coupled with the most current study, brought to light an ancient city with much of its urban structure.
To ensure a dominating and strategic position for governing central Italy, the Romans founded Alba Fucens in the territory of the Equi at the end of the fourth century BC.
Indeed, the city was perched on a plateau around 1,000 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest Roman settlements. The city’s strategic location gave it a defensive edge, but it also made it susceptible to attacks by people living in the surrounding mountains.
Alba Fucens flourished as an economic and cultural hub throughout the Roman Empire. Nonetheless, it was subject to numerous assaults and fires throughout the years, and by the third century AD, when barbarians invaded, it had been abandoned and was falling into ruin.
Exploring the historic center of Alba Fucens
The archeological site at Alba Fucens is open to the public, and admittance is free. This trip will allow you to experience the grandeur of the buildings that formerly made up the Alba Fucens urban fabric and delve deeply into ancient Roman history. Public squares, private dwellings, and evocative structures are all represented among the ancient town’s ruins.
The path starts at the kiosk and winds its way up the hill to the San Pietro Basilica. San Pietro in Alba Fucens, now a Christian church, was originally built in the third century BC as a temple to the pagan god Apollo. To schedule a tour to San Pietro in Alba Fucens, call the number posted on the church’s exterior.
By descending the slope, you will reach the center of the archeological site, the Roman amphitheater. You won’t find a better preserved Roman theater than this one. It was constructed in the 1st century BC and has an elliptical shape, with a capacity of 3,500 spectators. The entrances for the gladiators and the animals have been maintained, although the original steps have mostly disappeared.
The entire archeological area of Alba Fucens, encircled by the city walls which still maintain certain remnants such as the entry portals and guard towers, can be observed by visitors from the amphitheater. In the middle of the site’s blocks is where you’ll find the public buildings; the portico is rectangular and has two rows of columns.
After passing through the tabarnae, you will have arrived at the forum, the city’s political, religious, and economic heart, where everyday activity, public meetings, and religious festivals take place. Don’t miss the Domus, a massive edifice from the 2nd century whose ruins date back mainly to the 1st century AD. A chapel dedicated to Hercules stands in front of the Domus; its namesake statue was once housed there before being relocated to the national archeological museum in Chieti.
The theater of Alba Fucens, which is scarcely discernible once you past the temple, is the next stop. Semicircular basins lined with marble slabs survive from the public baths; they were popular gathering places for the city’s residents. Spa-goers can then visit the macellum, a marketplace for food and other supplies. Unfortunately, not much of the basilica of Alba Fucens survives, although massive craters are not hard to picture.