Avezzano

Marsica is a geographical area in the Abruzos region of Central Italy, of which Avezzano is the largest city.

In the middle of Marsica is the "Piana del Fucino" where the lake of the same name, the third largest in Italy, was located, until it was completely drained. The lake caused floods and stagnant water threatened health.

The first who wanted to drain the lake was Caesar, but he was killed before he could do so. Claudius brought to terms this objective between 41 and 52 AC. It took 11 years to build a 5.6 km underground canal capable of draining the water needed to the Liri River. However, due to the subsequent defeats it did not work properly.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, regular maintenance was stopped and it obstructed the canal. Over the years several kings proposed remedying it, but the necessary economic investment was costly and did not find a suitable project.

During the second half of the 19th century Alessandro Torlonia was who expanded and reused the pre-existing hydraulic engineering works like the collecting canal, to drain the lake definitively. In return he was granted the lands.

January 13, 1915 Earthquake. It has been one of the most devastating earthquakes experienced. 10,700 people were killed in the city of Avezzano (more than 80% of the population).

Years after the earthquake, farmers undertook a reverse fight to claim land expropriation. In 1950 they signed an agrarian reform.

Within 10 years, productivity increased, also regaining the livestock industry.

Explanation is mainly used for agricultural use, vegetables and tubers are grown. The products that have obtained the European PGI brand are the Fucino potato and the Fucino carrot.