Marsica
Marsica is a geographical area in the Abruzzo, central Italy, including 37 comuni in the province of L'Aquila, the most important of which is Avezzano. It is located between the plain of the former Fucine Lake, the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, the plain of Carsoli and the valley of Sulmona.
The area takes its name from the Marsi Italic tribe. In the center of the area there is the Fucino former lake, dried up in 1877, surrounded by parks and nature reserves. Avezzano is the most populous city of the territory.
Comuni
The Marsica includes 37 comuni: Aielli, Avezzano, Balsorano, Bisegna, Canistro, Capistrello, Cappadocia, Carsoli, Castellafiume, Celano, Cerchio, Civitella Roveto, Civita d'Antino, Collarmele, Collelongo, Gioia dei Marsi, Lecce nei Marsi, Luco dei Marsi, Magliano de' Marsi, Massa d'Albe, Morino, Opi, Oricola, Ortona dei Marsi, Ortucchio, Ovindoli, Pereto, Pescasseroli, Pescina, Rocca di Botte, San Benedetto dei Marsi, San Vincenzo Valle Roveto, Sante Marie, Scurcola Marsicana, Tagliacozzo, Trasacco, Villavallelonga.
Parks
The Marsica territory is rich in parks and natural reserves. Apart the Abruzzo National Park, it includes the natural reserve of Zompo lo Schioppo, the Regional Natural Park of Sirente-Velino, the Monte Velino Natural Reserve, and the Monte Salviano Natural Reserve. The most characteristic animal species is the Marsican brown bear, an endemism of Marsica.