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il Lago di Barrea

Church of the Purgatory

An alley/street in the Old City

Barrea is a comune in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Barrea is located on the shore of Il Lago di Barrea, a lake created after World War 2 due to the building of a dam on River Sangro.
The comune was established in 1067 under the protectorate of the Duke of Abruzzi. In typical feudal/medieval fashion, it was enclosed within the walls of the Duke's castle, high in the mountainous region of Abruzzi. One side of the castle was protected from invaders by natural means, utilizing the impassably steep slope of the mountain; two stone castle gates afforded other protection. The homes were built into the slides of the mountain, giving out through front entrances facing on narrow, twisting, steep stone alleys.
Today, the "citta vecchia" remains largely unchanged, though some renovation is taking place. The comune has spread beyond the castle gates for about a mile, giving out onto a main street that boasts restaurants, stores, and homes.
Its location surrounded by the Appennines prevented Barrea's development into an industrial area; historically, residents existed by tending small farms in plots on the mountainside, but that ended with the development of the lake. Today, Barrea is at the center of the National Park of Abruzzo, a natural area rich in wildlife and recreation, and has become something of a resort. Because it's in a national park, there are no bulletin boards, no neon, or any of the other signs of modern Italy that would detract from its natural beauty. There are several comfortable hotels/inns, and a resort that offers horseback riding, but its main attraction for many revolves around the preservation of its historical origins.

Abruzzo · Comuni of the Province of L'Aquila

Acciano | Aielli | Alfedena | Anversa degli Abruzzi | Ateleta | Avezzano | Balsorano | Barete | Barisciano | Barrea | Bisegna | Bugnara | Cagnano Amiterno | Calascio | Campo di Giove | Campotosto | Canistro | Cansano | Capestrano | Capistrello | Capitignano | Caporciano | Cappadocia | Carapelle Calvisio | Carsoli | Castel del Monte | Castel di Ieri | Castel di Sangro | Castellafiume | Castelvecchio Calvisio | Castelvecchio Subequo | Celano | Cerchio | Civita d'Antino | Civitella Alfedena | Civitella Roveto | Cocullo | Collarmele | Collelongo | Collepietro | Corfinio | Fagnano Alto | Fontecchio | Fossa | Gagliano Aterno | Gioia dei Marsi | Goriano Sicoli | Introdacqua | L'Aquila | Lecce nei Marsi | Luco dei Marsi | Lucoli | Magliano de' Marsi | Massa d'Albe | Molina Aterno | Montereale | Morino | Navelli | Ocre | Ofena | Opi | Oricola | Ortona dei Marsi | Ortucchio | Ovindoli | Pacentro | Pereto | Pescasseroli | Pescina | Pescocostanzo | Pettorano sul Gizio | Pizzoli | Poggio Picenze | Prata d'Ansidonia | Pratola Peligna | Prezza | Raiano | Rivisondoli | Rocca Pia | Rocca di Botte | Rocca di Cambio | Rocca di Mezzo | Roccacasale | Roccaraso | San Benedetto dei Marsi | San Benedetto in Perillis | San Demetrio ne' Vestini | San Pio delle Camere | San Vincenzo Valle Roveto | Sant'Eusanio Forconese | Sante Marie | Santo Stefano di Sessanio | Scanno | Scontrone | Scoppito | Scurcola Marsicana | Secinaro | Sulmona | Tagliacozzo | Tione degli Abruzzi | Tornimparte | Trasacco | Villa Sant'Angelo | Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi | Villalago | Villavallelonga | Villetta Barrea | Vittorito

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Coordinates: 41°45′N 13°59′E