Eco Hotel a L'Aquila

L'Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo, a remarkable city founded in 1254 by Emperor Federico II. Sitting at 714 metres elevation in the Aterno river valley and surrounded by the Gran Sasso massif — the highest peak in the Apennines at 2,912 metres — L'Aquila offers an extraordinary blend of medieval history, Renaissance architecture, and stunning mountain scenery.

The city takes its name from the eagle, and its historic centre follows a Roman grid plan laid with wide streets and lined with Renaissance and Baroque palazzos. L'Aquila was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2009 that claimed 309 lives, but its reconstruction has been one of Italy's greatest restoration stories. Today, nearly all major monuments — the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, the Fontana delle 99 Cannelle, the Castello Cinquecentesco, and Piazza Duomo — are fully restored and open to visitors. The so-called Red Zone, the cordoned-off historic heart after the quake, has now largely reopened, and the city pulses with life once again.

L'Aquila is a university city — home to the Università dell'Aquila, founded in 1596 — which gives it a vibrant, youthful energy that sets it apart from other Abruzzese towns. Its cuisine is among Italy's finest mountain fare: saffron from nearby Navelli (Zafferano dell'Aquila DOP, the prized red gold of Abruzzo), black truffles, lamb arrosticini, Scamorza cheese, and robust Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine. The city is the gateway to the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, Italy's largest protected area, offering hiking, skiing at Campo Imperatore, and access to some of the most dramatic landscapes in central Italy.

Booking an eco hotel through IMPT means you enjoy L'Aquila while removing 1 tonne of CO2 per night — at exactly the same price as Booking.com. Plus, new users receive EUR5 free credit and 5% cashback on every booking. With over 8 million hotels listed worldwide, IMPT makes sustainable travel effortless.

In Breve

Getting the Most Out of L'Aquila

L'Aquila is well connected by road and rail. The nearest major airport is Pescara International Airport (approximately 90 minutes by car or bus). Regular trains connect L'Aquila to Rome's Tiburtina station (about 2 hours) and to other Abruzzo towns. The historic centre is compact and highly walkable — you can explore the main sights comfortably on foot within a day.

For exploring the wider region — Gran Sasso National Park, the medieval hilltop villages of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio (the highest fortress in the Apennines), the Roman ruins of Amiternum just 8 km north, or the Adriatic coast — renting a car is recommended. In winter, head 30 km east to Campo Imperatore for skiing and snowboarding on the high-altitude plains known as Italy's Tibet. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking, the summer brings outdoor festivals and the famous Perdonanza Celestiniana, and winter offers snow sports and cosy mountain retreats.

The best time to visit is April through June or September through October for mild weather and fewer crowds. August is busy with Italian holidaymakers, but the city's festivals — especially the Celestinian Pardon in late August — make it a vibrant time to visit.