Fontecchio

Fontecchio is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The small, medieval village is located within the Monte Sirente community and the Sirente-Velino Regional Park.

Fontecchio
Comune
Comune di Fontecchio
Location of Fontecchio
Fontecchio Location of Fontecchio in Abruzzo Show map of Italy Fontecchio Fontecchio (Abruzzo) Show map of Abruzzo
Coordinates: 42°13′50″N 13°36′24″E
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	L'Aquila (AQ)
Frazioni	San Pio di Fontecchio
Government
• Mayor	Sabrina Ciancone (since March 30, 2010)[1] (Dalla parte di Fontecchio - On the Side of Fontecchio)
Area [2]
• Total	16.89 km2 (6.52 sq mi)
Elevation	668 m (2,192 ft)
Population  (December 31, 2014)[3]
• Total	401
• Density	24/km2 (61/sq mi)
Demonym	Fontecchiani or Fonticulani
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	67020
Dialing code	0862
Patron saint	Saint Blaise
Saint day	February 3
Website	http://www.fontecchio.gov.it/

History

There is archaeological evidence of the Roman settlement of Fonticulanum^{[citation needed]} down on the Aterno river. In the Middle Ages a castle was built on top of the hill and the population moved up there. The condottiero Braccio da Montone ("Fortebraccio") (1368–1424) tried and failed to capture the castle in the 14th century.

Today you can see a wonderful and well conserved historical centre. Many fragments of ancient monuments are displayed in the L'Aquila museum.

Transport

Fontecchio has a stop on the Terni–Sulmona railway, with trains to L'Aquila and Sulmona.