Avezzano, Italy

Capital City

With a population of just 40,661, Avezzano may seem like a sleepy backwater, but the reality is far more complex. This city in the Abruzzo region, the second largest in its province, has reinvented itself after a devastating 1915 earthquake leveled much of the town. While the historic center offers little in the way of must-see sights, the pragmatic locals have focused on building a thriving industrial and commercial hub. The Fucino plain, once a vast lake, now provides fertile farmland that accounts for a quarter of Abruzzo's agricultural GDP. However, the heavy bureaucracy surrounding land use and development is a persistent headache. With its Mediterranean mountain climate and access to nature reserves, Avezzano may appeal to those seeking an affordable alternative to Rome, but the lack of cultural attractions means it's best suited for hardnosed realists, not romantics.