Hotel Nido dell'Aquila

Piazza Palazzo

by iandsmith

The sun was casting its first rays when I stepped into the chill early spring air and commenced my morning walk. This happened to be the first picture I took. I knew there would be a story behind the statue of Crispus. I wasn't disappointed.
The man commonly called Sallust (full name Gaius Sallustius Crispus) was born around 86 BC at Amiternum, Samnium (now San Vittorino, near L'Aquila), Italy and he died in 35/34 BC. He was a Roman historian and he was known for his narrative writings dealing with political personalities, corruption, and party rivalry. Sallust's family probably belonged to the local aristocracy; he served in the Roman Senate although he was not born into the ruling class. Nothing is known of his early career. In 52 he was a tribune of the plebs; in this way he represented the lower classes but it was also one of the most powerful magistracies. In 50 Sallust was expelled from the Senate for alleged immorality and in 49 he sought refuge with Julius Caesar, and, when the civil war between Caesar and Pompey broke out in that year, he was placed in command of one of Caesar's legions. Two years later, designated praetor, he was sent to quell a mutiny among Caesar's troops, without success. In 46 he took part in Caesar's African campaign, and when Africa Nova was formed from Numidian territory (modern Algeria), Sallust became its first governor. He remained in office until 45 or early 44. Back in Rome, Sallust was accused of extortion and of plundering his province, but he was never brought to trial. Sallust's political career ended soon after his return to Rome. Sallust began to write before the Triumvirate was formed late in 43. His first monograph of 43/42 BC, Bellum Catilinae (Catiline's War), deals with corruption in Roman politics. Sallust describes the course of the conspiracy and the measures taken by the Senate and Cicero, who was then consul. In Sallust's second monograph, Bellum Jugurthinum of 41-40 BC (The Jugurthine War), he explored in greater detail the origins of party struggles that arose in Rome when war broke out against Jugurtha, the king of Numidia, who rebelled against Rome at the close of the 2nd century BC. The Histories describes the history of Rome from 78 to 67 B.C. Two "Letters to Caesar" and an "Invective Against Cicero," Sallustian in style, have often been credited, although probably incorrectly, to Sallust.

Trekking & Hiking in Gran Sasso

by mario_spring_83

Gran Sasso is without doubt the most "dolomitic" mountains group in the appennines and not only because of its altitude (Corno Grande : 2914 m) and its glacier that is the most southern in europe, but also for its vertical faces and its landscapes.
But in addition to the dolomites it offers many different views due to the geographical position of the group.
I think to the oriental summit of Corno Grande(2903 m) from where you have on one side the "calderone glacier" and on the other side,after a vertical face that jumps for 2000 m, green hills that become smoothier and smoothier toward the sea who seems so close.
I think to the vertical faces of western summit of corno grande (2914 m), to the faces of "corno Piccolo" where often, in summer season you can see climbers who ascent the mountain.
But Gran Sasso is also the place for long trekkings of all difficulties from the simple walk requiring few hours to two weeks ways for experts only!

Now i'm going to give just some ideas but the choices can be almost infinites.

Great mountain ski possibilities from very easy to extreme difficulty!