L'Aquila is an Italian city located in Abruzzo, about 100 km east of Rome. Its history is very old and has its roots in Roman times, when it was founded as a Roman colony with the name 'Aquilonia'.
Last night, on business, I happened to be in this beautiful town that is preparing for the Christmas festivities. Walking through the streets of the centre, I found myself in the main square and found a beautiful Christmas market. There were stalls with decorations, scented candles, tree decorations and many other Christmas items.
For a weeknight, there were really a lot of people around intent on having fun at Luna Park. Despite the fact that it was a working day like so many others, people seemed to want to spend their free time taking a ride on the rides and trying out the amusement park attractions.
But the thing that impressed me most was the fun fair they had set up right next to the market. There were merry-go-rounds for young and old, a little train to go around the square and many other attractions. Although it was already late, there was still a lot of people having fun and laughing.
It was really exciting to breathe in the Christmas atmosphere in this town, and I immediately felt wrapped up in the festive spirit.
During the Middle Ages, L'Aquila became an important cultural and economic centre, thanks to its strategic location on the Via Francigena, an important pilgrimage route connecting Rome to Canterbury. Over the centuries, the city suffered numerous dominations, including those of the Angevins, the Florentines and the Neapolitans.
In 2009, L'Aquila was again hit by an earthquake that caused the death of more than 300 people and the destruction of much of the historic centre. However, the city was rebuilt with the help of major revival projects and today it is once again an important cultural and economic centre.
L'Aquila is also home to important universities and numerous museums and art galleries, which attract tourists from all over the world. Its architectural beauty and fascinating history make it a unique and unforgettable destination.
Today, I was lucky enough to taste a delicious Brezel accompanied by a good American-style coffee. I picked this up at the stalls of the Christmas market and I must say that I was very pleased with the quality of the food and the service, and I hope to see more of them in the future throughout Italy.
Although the Brezel is a traditional German product, it was prepared in a very neat and tasty way, and the American-style coffee was definitely of high quality.
I hope you enjoyed my story of discovering the market in L'Aquila and thank you for following me in this story. I hope to have the opportunity to tell you more stories in the future, so I invite you to follow me again!
At this time of year, I am very happy, because the Christmas atmosphere with its magic always puts me in a good mood. This is also good for myself, because it allows me to be positive and enjoy the festivities to the fullest.