Oh, L’Aquila, capital of Abruzzo, the one that perched on the branch of an olive tree, majestic, saw the birth of Ilaria. How to get there if all roads lead to Rome?, with your heart and if it fails you, go by bus or car. It is very easy from Rome for those arriving at Fiumicino or Ciampino airports. For those coming from Italy, you can get there by highway from your town.

The nearest airports are Rome Fiumicino (FCO) or Rome Ciampino (CIA). From there, you can travel by car, renting it at Terminal 2, or by bus directly from the airport.

The idea of traveling by car is not only an economical and practical option, it’s for divas of all genders who can emulate Sophia Loren with a headscarf and big sunglasses. Better known as Sofia Constanza Brigida Villani Scicolone, when her mother had those emotional cloudy days or Sophia had broken a piece of good porcelain.

Well, whether you go as a couple or decide to rent a car together, the trip is worth it. Very much so. From beautiful Rome, through Tivoli, to the great mountains of Abruzzo where you are joining us for our wedding. You should not only go by car, you should stop from time to time to admire the spectacle that is Italy. Can already see yourself there? Feel the gentle breeze coming down from the mountains as you get out of the car, while you see the majestic forests surrounding L’Aquila.

The best option as it is one of the cheapest and has the widest range of cars is Goldcar, located on the fourth floor of parking B at Terminal 2 of Rome Fiumicino airport. We recommend renting it with your hotel through Booking or eDreams, although on the Goldcar website there are good offers that are sometimes better than those on these platforms. Compare before renting. A weekend car should not cost more than €90 in any case. The opening hours are from 7:30h to 23:00h and after closing time it is not possible to rent any car.

Buses are comfortable and regular, as well as cheap: €18 each way. You can check the timetables at gasparionline.it if you decide to get it, although after the above story if you’re going by bus you don’t like driving.

L’Aquila is the city of Ilaria’s birth, where she lived until she was 22 years old. It is located in the green heart of the Abruzzo region in central Italy.

It offers an extraordinary natural, architectural and cultural heritage. Here you will find the most important places and here you can download a complete guide.

Ilaria’s favourite place is the Forte Spagnolo. We already know that she likes Spanish things, even people. It is a fortress built during the Spanish domination of southern Italy in the first half of the 16th century. The castle is surrounded by a large forest. Yes, a real forest, right in the centre of the city, something absolutely unique, a beautiful enclave, where Ilaria used to walk or run (from the bears) every day. When in L’Aquila, she still visit it. There you can enjoy the scent of the trees, the fresh mountain breeze and spectacular views accompanied by the sound of the birds, which inhabit the place as casual tenants. It is still her favourite place on earth.

The historic centre is an amalgam of grand palaces and Romanesque structures, a place that certainly deserves our attention as the survivor of a major earthquake in 2009. The town centre has been carefully restored, as can be seen in the beautiful whitish colour of the stone. A city dotted with small palaces and churches that once housed the Sunday mass, today they remain only sombre, preserving all the splendour of the past. You only have to look fondly at their grand façades to understand the grandeur of their structure.

L’Aquila is also a lively and welcoming city where you can enjoy restaurants and bars. If you follow this website carefully, you will get some gastronomic and cultural routes that we are adding. We will let you know!

We recommend looking for accommodation in the historic centre: as follows, you will find a map of the city centre and these links to Booking o Airbnb can help you find an accommodation. The centre is a masterpiece and, being limited in size, it can be visited by walking. There are no great hotels. However, there are many B&Bs, and some of them are in impressive historic palaces, even inhabited by their counts or marquises.

Hotel Canadian

A resort style hotel with swimming pool, sauna and other amenities 7 minutes from the centre by car, where there are 50 rooms for mixed use: single, double, triple or quadruple. Availability is not guaranteed, only the price is. Breakfast included. To book this hotel you have to send an email to canadian@canadianhotel.it, indicating that you belong to Ilaria Bassi’s group.

We will enjoy this day all together in the same place. The wedding ceremony and the banquet are held at the Monastery of Spirito Santo in Ocre.