Borgo medievale di Albe (Albe Vecchia)

The medieval village of Albe Vecchia occupies the hill of San Nicola above the Roman city of Alba Fucens, in the territory of Massa d'Albe. Its castle and village ruins were abandoned after the Marsica earthquake of 1915 and have not been rebuilt over.

Why it matters

Albe preserves the form of a medieval settlement above the remains of Alba Fucens. The village became the principal settlement of the area after the Roman city declined, and it remained inhabited until the earthquake of 13 January 1915 damaged it so severely that its residents left.

What to notice

The village follows the ridge, with house remains and lanes along the slope and the Orsini castle on higher ground. Humble stone house walls contrast with the sturdier masonry of the castle. The hill faces the Fucino basin, whose former lake shaped the strategic position of the settlement. The village's ruins and those of the castle are preserved within the Sirente-Velino regional park.

Context and history

The medieval settlement arose after Alba Fucens declined and was abandoned around the sixth century AD. In the fourteenth century, Albe was a feud of the Orsini family, who built the castle above the Fucino lake. The town continued as a rural market centre until the 1915 earthquake damaged both village and castle. The inhabitants left, and the hilltop settlement has remained uninhabited since.