Deep-dive

Mountain climate and the reconstruction after 2009

At 700 m between the Gran Sasso and the Velino-Sirente, L'Aquila has long cold winters with snow, cool summers and clean air. It lies in one of Italy's highest seismic-hazard zones: the earthquake of 6 April 2009 killed 309 people; according to figures released in April 2026 private reconstruction stands at 96% and public reconstruction at around 60%.

Sections: Seasons · Rainfall · Temperatures · Air quality · Environmental hazards

The climate

L'Aquila has a mountain-continental climate: winters are long and cold, with frequent frosts from November to March, regular snowfalls in the city and heavy ones on the Gran Sasso (in January 2017 snow in the city exceeded one metre); summers are warm by day but cool in the evening, with dry air and afternoon storms; spring comes late and autumn is short and bright. Air quality is among the best of Italy's provincial capitals, with very few days above the PM10 limit (see data), although wood and pellet heating weighs in the cold months. Newcomers should budget for six to seven months of heating, and winter tyres or chains on board are compulsory from mid-November to mid-April on the roads of the basin.

Rainy days per year

City figurePeriod: 1991–2020Validsample unknown

Source: ISPRA – Valori climatici normali in Italia (web app SCIA, Sezione Climatologia Operativa), trentennio 1991–2020 · Stazione urbana de L'Aquila (618 m).

86days

Days per year above the PM10 limit (50 µg/m³)

City figurePeriod: 2024Validsample unknown

Source: SNPA – La qualità dell'aria in Italia nel 2024: PM10, tabella ISQA per stazione (dati ARPA/APPA, provvisori) · Dati 2024 elaborati dalle ARPA/APPA a fine anno, provvisori: le relazioni regionali definitive possono dedurre i superamenti attribuibili a polveri desertiche. Valore limite: max 35 giorni/anno. Unica stazione nel comune.

8days

Missing: temp_jan_avg, temp_jul_avg

The 2009 earthquake

The Aquila basin is in seismic zone 1, the highest hazard class. At 3:32 am on 6 April 2009 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake with its epicentre a few kilometres from the city killed 309 people, injured more than 1,500 and displaced about 65,000, making the historic centre unusable and destroying whole districts and hamlets (Onna, Villa Sant'Angelo, part of Pettino). Historically the city had already been destroyed by the earthquakes of 1461 and 1703. INGV monitors the area's seismicity continuously and publishes data in real time.

Reconstruction today

Reconstruction is managed by the Special Office for the Reconstruction of L'Aquila (USRA) for the capital and by USRC for the other municipalities of the crater area. The historic centre has been rebuilt to earthquake-resistant standards while preserving the façades: churches, palaces and most homes have reopened, the Basilica of Collemaggio has been restored, while the Cathedral of San Massimo is still being completed. According to figures released for the seventeenth anniversary, in April 2026, private reconstruction stands at 96% counting completed and nearly completed works, while public reconstruction (schools, offices, minor churches) is around 60%: some public buildings and blocks remain construction sites. Anyone looking for housing should check the building's status and reconstruction date: homes rebuilt after 2009 are among the safest in Italy.