abruzzo's capital lies at the foot of the gran sasso, the highest point of the italian mainland south of the alps (and good for skiing).
its ancient streets are peppered with churches and mansions. santa giusta (1257),of via santa giusta, has a lovely rose window and a martyrdom of st. stephen (1615) by cavalier d'arpino.
santa maria di paganica of via paganica has a 14th-century facade and a carved portal.
the duomo (1257) in piazza del duomo was rebuilt in the 18th century and subsequently enlarged.
the church of santa maria di collemaggio, on piazza di collemaggio, is a massive structure with a facade of pink and white stone.
it was built in the 13th century by pietro dal marrone, who later became pope celestine.
san bernardino, on via di san bernardino, houses the tomb (1505) of san bernardino of siena by silvestro dell'aquila.
the medieval fontanelle delle novantanove cannelle at the end of via san jacopo is a fountain commemorating the 99 villages that frederick ii supposedly united when he founded l'aquila in 1240.
the museo nazionale d'abruzzo, in the 16th-century castle, contains the remains of a prehistoric elephant, roman artefacts and religious works.