Suggestions for educational and recreational itineraries around the fortified town The town walls A guided tour around the contour of the Angevin town walls is proposed: starting from Porta Piazza, it is possible to see some remains located on the south-west side of the town walls, which partly encircle the town today, and in particular between the Porta delle Vigne and Porta S. Antonio gates. The route of the wall follows an irregular path, and is characterized by curtain walls with a slightly scarped base, which follows outcrops of rocks for long stretches. Near the buttressed earthwork which supports the F. Pepe square, a few traces of a square bastion in a bad state of neglect can be found. The original presence of an overhang with merlons on the walls can be presumed. This defensive system started to be used from the late Middle Ages up to the end of the 15th century and consisted of a projecting structure placed on the crown of the walls from where it was possible to use a “hurtle down” type of defence, sheltered from the enemy’s assault. This was done by throwing down various materials like stones or boiling pitch from above, through overhanging trapdoors, and this activity was helped by the scarped base. The remains of a pentagonal bastion built in 1846 can be traced near Porta S. Antonio, covered by widespread infesting vegetation. A guided tour around the town walls would only be possible after careful maintenance of their surfaces and clearing of the land nearby, which is partly cultivated at the moment. The village An itinerary currently followed by tourists and proposed by local guides, winds through the thick network of rue and ruette (narrow streets) paved with stones or bricks, to discover civil, public, private and religious buildings of 16th and 17th century. The urban plan, dating back to medieval times, is characterized by an elongated shape, with parallel routes running mainly in an east-westerly direction following the slope, and by narrow blocks of streets on different levels which provide many different views. The houses are mostly in rows with single end-of-row lots, which often appear to be fortified houses, with small openings and thick walls. There are also some important town houses which belonged to the nobility and were decorated with refined architectural details. The building material is generally square stone ashlars laid in regular rows. Larger blocks adorn some facades, showing up the angle irons and stone cornices, often elegantly shaped and of excellent workmanship. The itinerary begins in Porta Piazza, (now Porta Napoli) on the east side of the urban area, where the town coat of arms, representing five crenellated towers, stands out on the keystone. After passing Porta Napoli, one takes via Roma from where the ramp leading up to the fortress starts. One then proceeds along to F. Pepe Square, with the church of S. Lorenzo overlooking it, open on the south side, and from where there is a beautiful view taking in the Montagna dei Fiori and the peaks of Gran Sasso. Taking the main axis of the town - Corso Mazzini – which, crossing the whole village longitudinally, linked Porta Piazza in the east with Porta delle Vene in the west, there are some elegant buildings and the bell tower of the church of S. Francesco and, at its end, piazza Pietro Rosati, opened up between the 1920s and 40s by knocking down two buildings. These works were undertaken for an urban plan and entailed demolishing some of the medieval parts. The only building spared, but which is now in a very poor state of repair, was the palace of the Capitano or Governor, with an 18th century marble monument dedicated to Matteo Wade next to it. Along via Mazzini, it is possible to pass buildings of great value, which belonged to important families of Civitella, and to see the church of S. Maria delle Laudi, greatly damaged by degradation and decay. The fortress The plan of the ancient Habsburg fortress is still recognizable, notwithstanding numerous interventions and its recent controversial rebuilding. The complex structure is founded on a travertine hill and completely occupies the whole summit of the high ground surrounded by imposing walls, which, with a line of bastions, ensured a barrage of crossfire against assailants. The masonry structures cover a very thick earthwork, with passages and batteries often located on two different levels. By placing the entrance of the stronghold inside the inhabited area, the Spanish enclosed the urban centre within the defensive system. Going past Porta Napoli on the east side, the itinerary continues up via Roma and reaches the entrance of the fortress by means of a steep ramp. It then crosses bastions and communication trenches, and goes past the church of S. Giacomo, the Governor’s palace and the garrison billets to arrive at the fortress museum. To back up these guided tours, various different kinds of reception structures could be set up, such as information points and refreshment areas, which are at present insufficient for the estimated 11,000 tourists a year.