Raiano (locally Raianë) is a town and comune of the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Raiano
Comune di Raiano
Coat of arms of Raiano
Location of Raiano
Map
Raiano is located in Italy
Raiano
Raiano
Location of Raiano in Italy
Raiano is located in Abruzzo
Raiano
Raiano
Raiano (Abruzzo)
Coordinates: 42°6′12″N 13°48′56″E / 42.10333°N 13.81556°E / 42.10333; 13.81556
CountryItaly
RegionAbruzzo
ProvinceL'Aquila (AQ)
Government
 • MayorMarco Moca
Area
 • Total
29.09 km2 (11.23 sq mi)
Elevation
390 m (1,280 ft)
Population
 (1 January 2007)[2]
 • Total
2,990
 • Density100/km2 (270/sq mi)
DemonymRaianesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
67027
Dialing code0864
Patron saintSaint Venantius
Saint day18 May
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

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Raiano is located at 390 metres (1,280 feet) above sea level, on the western side of the Peligna Valley. In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder subdivided the Peligna region and its people into three categories: Paelignorum Corfinienses, Superequani et Sulmonenses. Raiano lies in the Corfinienses region on the south side of the Aterno river valley, only 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the remains of the ancient city of Corfinium.

History

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The Villa Ragiani, or Castrum Radiani, was raised on the hill of Castellone in the Middle Ages, with the earliest references appearing in 872. This little village, that in the 10th century hosted for a short time emperors Otto I and Otto III, was ruled throughout the Middle Ages by the feudal events of the surrounding area and the Kingdom of Sicily, subject to the successive reigns of the Normans, the Hohenstaufen, the Angevins, and the Aragonese.

It maintained a notable importance, however, thanks to the barracks in the north-western Peligna Valley and its strategic position along the old Celano-Foggia Path and the ancient Via Tiburtina Valeria. The old town was deserted in the second half of the 15th century, after many earthquakes.

Main sights

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Transport

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Raiano is served by the Raiano railway station, on the Terni–Sulmona railway, with trains to L'Aquila and Sulmona.

Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  3. ^ "Baths of Raiano".