Alba Fucens was an ancient Italic town located at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) elevation at the base of Monte Velino, approximately 6.5 km (4.0 mi) north of Avezzano, Abruzzo, central Italy.

The following year they had to defend themselves from the attacks of the Aequi who, unable to tolerate the presence of a fortified Latin citadel on their territory, tried to conquer it without success.

[4] After this it became a regular place of detention for important state prisoners such as Syphax of Numidia, Perseus of Macedonia, Bituitus, king of the Arverni.

The Martia, leaving the coast road at Aternum, took the Via Valeria and went to Alba Fucens, which due to its strategic position made it possible to maintain contact with Octavian and, if necessary, prevent Antony from passing through towards the Adriatic.

What other city could one choose, well fortified and nearby, or more suitable for its natural position for military operations, or more faithful, or inhabited by braver or more attached citizens to our Republic?Its prosperity, in the imperial period, is testified by the inscriptions found.

[9] The city walls of about 3 km circumference are well preserved and constructed of polygonal masonry of uncertain date; the blocks are carefully jointed, and the faces smoothed.

The arrangement of the gates is clearly traceable; as a rule they come at the end of a long, straight stretch of wall, and are placed so as to leave the right side of any attacking force exposed.

The hill at the western end of the town was occupied by the Temple of Apollo of the Tuscan order from the 2nd c. BC, the remarkable remains of which are incorporated in a beautiful Romanesque church of San Pietro which contains some Cosmatesque mosaics.