Abruzzo
—  Region of Italy  —
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Italy
Capital	L'Aquila
Government
• President	Giovanni Chiodi (PdL)
Area
• Total	10,763 km2 (4,156 sq mi)
Population (28 February 2011)
• Total	1,342,975
• Density	120/km2 (320/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
GDP/ Nominal	€ 28.7[1] billion (2008)
GDP per capita	€ 21,400[2] (2008)
NUTS Region	ITF
Website	www.regione.abruzzo.it

Abruzzo (pronounced [aˈbruttso]) is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than 50 miles (80 km) due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Although it is geographically more of a central than southern region, ISTAT (the Italian statistical authority) considers it part of Southern Italy, a vestige of Abruzzo's historic association with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Geography[link]

Corno Grande in the Gran Sasso massif, Apennines's highest peak.

The region is situated at the centre of the Italian peninsula facing the Adriatic, which it follows along 150 km of beaches and rocks. With an area of 10,763 km² (4,156 sq mi), and bordered on the east by the Adriatic and on the west by the Apennines, it is one of the most mountainous regions in Italy (the Corno Grande in the Gran Sasso massif, at 2,914 m (9,560.37 ft), is the highest summit in the Apennines). The rivers, although numerous, are all seasonal except for the biggest – the Pescara and the Sangro. In the interior are the 500 km² (190 sq mi) of the Abruzzo National Park, where rare examples of Mediterranean flora and fauna survive (chamois, wolves, bears, golden eagles).The climate is varied – warm and dry on the coast, an alpine climate in the mountainous interior. Major roads and railway lines link the region to the south, west and north of Italy and the rest of Europe.^[3]

Climate[link]

The Abruzzo region has two types of climate; the climate is strongly influenced by the presence of Abruzzo's Apennine Mountain range-Central, which divides the climate of the coastal and sub​​-Apennine hills of the interior mountain ranges of the highest: while coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild winters and rainy hills presents the climatic characteristics of type sublittoral with temperatures decrease progressively with increasing altitude and precipitation with altitude instead. Precipitation also strongly affected by the presence of the Apennine mountain ridges of the region increases with the proportion being more abundant in the field and on the slopes exposed to the west, instead of decreasing towards the east and east-facing slopes. Often the Adriatic coast are sidelined rainfall from the west to the barrier effect of the Apennines undergoing the action of gentle winds descending from it (or Libeccio Garbino). The minimum annual rainfall, however, are found in some inland valleys, sheltered from much disturbance to the blocking action of mountain ridges, such as the Valley Peligna, or the valley of the river Tirino, which in some places (Ofena, Capistrano) showed barely 500 mm, and not along the coast where it never falls below 600 mm, for if the Teramo is relatively little watered by rain (Teramo less than 800 mm), the meter is exceeded in Chieti, reaching maximum levels in the Adriatic, while between Ortona and Vasto in Costa Trabocchi decrease again. The highest rainfall is found instead in upland places on the border with Lazio, are especially vulnerable to disturbances Atlantic, and are around 1500-2000 mm (Pescara in 2010 showed a value close to 2800 mm).

Flora and Fauna[link]

As with many Mediterranean regions, Abruzzo's vegetation is characterized by the presence of different Mediterranean ecosystems; the coast and the surrounding areas are remarkable for the presence of typical Mediterranean plants such as myrtle, heather and mastic, but in hilly areas other typical Mediterranean species will also grow, including olive, pine, willow, oak, poplar, alder, arbutus, broom, acacia, capers, rosemary, hawthorn, licorice and almond trees, interspersed with oak trees. Between 600 and 1,000 meters of altitude spans submontane vegetation, mainly characterized by mixed forests of Cerro, Oak, Oak, Maple and Hornbeam; very common among the shrubs are, specifically, Rosa Canina and Red Juniper. Between 1000 and 1900 meters of altitude, there appears a great deal of beech tress. has spread a lot of the beech. Higher still in the Apennines, above 2000 meters of altitude, we find the presence of the orchid species like alpine, mountain juniper, cranberry black and finally a unique species, perhaps as Edelweiss Abruzzo. To learn more, see the entries Abruzzo Chamois, Brown Bear and Marsicano Shepherd Maremma-Abruzzese. The fauna of Abruzzo are highly varied, and the animal symbol of the region is undoubtedly the Abruzzo Chamois that has had a remarkable recovery after risking extinction. Another animal typical of this region is the Marsicano Brown Bear, along with wolves, deer, lynx, roe deer, snow vole, fox, porcupine, wild cat, wild boar, badger, otters and vipers.

History[link]

The church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila, as it was before the devastating earthquake of 6 April 2009.

Humans have inhabited Abruzzo since Neolithic times. A skeleton from Lama dei Peligni in the province of Chieti has been radiometrically dated to 6,540 bp.^[4] The name Abruzzo appears to derive from the Latin "Aprutium", although in Roman times the region was known at various times as Picenum, Sabina et Samnium, Flaminia et Picenum and/or Campania et Samnium.^[5] This region was known as Aprutium in the Middle Ages arising from four possible sources. Many think^[who?] it is apparently a corruption of Praetutium, or rather of the name of the people Praetutii, applied to their chief city, Interamnaes, now present day Teramo. Another etymology is from the Latin "aper" (boar) so that Aprutium was the "land of boars" or from "abruptum" (rugged, steep). A more recent etymology is from the Latin expression "a Bruttiis" (from the Bruttii) meaning the land that began from the Bruzi people, who moved south to occupy Calabria.^[5][6]

Until 1963 it was part of the Abruzzi region with Molise. The term Abruzzi derives from the time when the region was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the territory was administered as Abruzzo Citeriore (Nearer Abruzzo) and Abruzzo Ulteriore I and II (Farther Abruzzo I and II ), that being nearer and farther from Naples, the capital of the kingdom.^[5] Abruzzo Citeriore is present day Chieti province. Abruzzo Ulteriore I comprised the Teramo and Pescara provinces; Abruzzo Ulteriore II is now the Province of L'Aquila. In this province is found the city of CORFINIO (known as CORFINIUM in ancient Italy), the chief city of the Paeligni, 7 m. N. of Sulmona in the valley of the Aternus. The site of the original town is occupied by the village of Pentima. It probably became subject to Rome in the 4th century B.C., though it does not appear in Roman history before the Social War (90 B.C.), in which it was at first adopted by the allies as the capital and seat of government of their newly founded state under the name Italia (this form, not Italica, is vouched for by the coins). It appears also as a fortress of importance in the Civil War, though it resisted Caesar's attack for a week (49 B.C.). The war was lost, but the name Italia remained to eventually be adopted by all of Italy. Entering Corfinio from the east, a plaque can be observed commemorating, and attributing the designation of the adopted name Italia to the peninsula by the Italic people of the region. These people were honored by Caesar as citizens of Rome.

Economy[link]

The seaport of Pescara.

Until a few decades ago, Abruzzo was a region of poverty in Southern Italy; over the past decades, however, it has developed to such an extent that it has escaped from the spiral of underdevelopment to become the 'first' region of the 'Italian Mezzogiorno'. This confirms its pivotal role in the national economic system. Since the 1950s, Abruzzo has had steady economic growth. In 1951, Abruzzo per capita income or GDP was 53% of that of Northern Italy, the nation's richest region. By 1971, Abruzzo was at 65% and, by 1994, per capita income was at 76% of Northern Italy's per capita income, giving Abruzzo the highest per capita GDP of Southern Italy and surpassing the growth rate of every other region of Italy. The construction of superhighways from Rome to Teramo (A24) and Rome to Pescara (A25) opened Abruzzo to easy access, state and private investment in the region increased, and Abruzzo attained higher per capita education levels and greater productivity growth than the rest of the South. As of 2003, Abruzzo's per capita GDP was €19,506 or 84% of the national average of €23,181 and well outpacing that of the South (€15,808).^[7] As of 2006^[update], the region's average GDP per capita was approximately 20,100 EUR.^[8] The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake on 6 April 2009 led to a sharp economic slowdown, whose recovery, according to experts, is still rather. However, according to statistics at the end of 2010, it seems that the economy of Abruzzo is in recovering, despite the negative data regarding employment, making the most hope for an economic future. In fact, at year-end 2010, the Abruzzo has registered a growth of 1.47% fourth placing the region among the Italian regions with the highest annual growth rates after the Lazio, the Lombardy and Calabria. In 2011 Abruzzo confirms economic growth, +2.3% with a higher percentage among the regions of Southern Italy the region also confirms the richest region of Southern Italy with GDP higher per capita between the regions of southern Italy (€21,574).

Industry and agriculture[link]

Montepulciano growing in Abruzzo.

Abruzzo's industrial sector expanded rapidly, especially in mechanical engineering, transportation equipment and telecommunications.^[9] The structure of production in the region reflects the transformation of the economy from agriculture to industry and services. Although industry has developed strongly, it retains weak points due to the existence of only a few large businesses alongside a huge fabric of small and medium-sized businesses. Both pure and applied research are carried out in the region, where there are major institutes and factories involved in research in the fields of pharmaceutics, biomedicine, electronics, aerospace and nuclear physics. The industrial infrastructure is spread throughout the region in industrial zones which have already been mentioned, the most important of which are Val Pescara, Val Sangro, Val Trigno, Val Vibrata and Conca del Fucino. A further activity worthy of note is seaside and mountain tourism, which is of considerable importance to the economy of the region.^[10] Agriculture, involving small holdings, has succeeded in modernising and offering high-quality products. The mostly small, agricultural holdings produce wine, cereals, sugar beet, potatoes, olives, vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Traditional products are saffron and liquorice. Most famous in the world is Abruzzo's wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo; in the late 20th and early 21st century, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo earned a reputation as being one of the most widely exported DOC classed wine in Italy.^[11]

Tourism and wildlife[link]

In the past decade, tourism has increased, mostly among Italians and other Europeans. Abruzzo's wealth of castles and medieval towns, especially near the town of L'Aquila, has earned it in some quarters the nickname of "Abruzzoshire", by analogy with the "Chiantishire" nickname sometimes used to refer to the Chianti area of Tuscany, but Abruzzo is still off the beaten path for most visitors to Italy. The Times newspaper described Abruzzo as "the king of agrotourism".^[12]

Abruzzo has seen a tremendous growth of tourism attracting visitors from all over the Italy and also from the Europe, the region over the years has become the fifth between the Italian regions with the most percentage of the average stay of clients in accommodation after the Calabria, the Marche, the Sardinia and Trentino. In 2007, arrivals totaled 1,371,155 Italian and 189,651 foreign. A total of 7,374,646 arrivals were tourists figure that puts the region between the seventeenth Italian regions for number of tourists annually.

Tourism represents 20% of the region's revenue. In the mountainous inland areas are the ski resorts of Scanno, Ovindoli, Tagliacozzo, Roccaraso, Campo Imperatore, Campofelice, Rivisondoli, Pescocostanzo and Prati di Tivo. Other trails and facilities are in San Giacomo Monte-Piselli, Passo Lanciano, Prato Selva, Marsia, Campo Rotondo, Campo di Giove, Passo San Leonardo, Passo Godi, Pizzoferrato, and Gamberale.

The natural parks of the region include the Abruzzo National Park, the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga the National Park Maiella and Sirente Velino which every year attract thousands of visitors due to their nature and rare species of wildlife such as Abruzzo chamois; also the region boasts many natural reserves and areas protect.

Fountain of 99 Spouts

One third of the region is designated as national or regional parkland. The following parks lie, wholly or partially, within Abruzzo:

• Abruzzo National Park
• Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
• Majella National Park
• Sirente Velino Regional Park
• Lago di Barrea (Barrea Lake Wetlands

The protected areas are environmentally important and are home to rare flora and fauna, such as the brown bear, the wolf and the chamois.

Very well developed summer tourism, coastal and beach, the most important tourist resorts are equipped Montesilvano, Pineto, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Giulianova, Alba Adriatica, Tortoreto, Ortona, Vasto, Martinsicuro, Silvi Marina, Francavilla al Mare and the Costa dei Trabocchi. Many of these centers, tourist resorts have the privilege and prestige of being named the European Blue Flag for water quality and services, placing fourth in the Italian region Abruzzo in this particular ranking only behind Liguria, Tuscany and Marche, with 15 Flags Blue in respect of the year 2011. As for tourism, art-historical and cultural importance are the historical and cultural city of Chieti, Teramo, Vasto, Giulianova, Sulmona, L'Aquila and above who can boast many monuments, museums, castles and churches of national importance; even Pescara while being a modern city, boasting monuments, churches and museums of historical importance such as the birthplace Museum Gabriele D'Annunzio, in inland areas are mountainous ancient villages, castles, monasteries, shrines, monasteries, and churches. The majority of tourists come from the rest of Italy, France and Germany. The variety of landscapes that the region can offer, is raising across the region leading tourist facilities equipped with every comfort for tourists.

Demographics[link]

The population density, although it has increased over the last decades, is well below the national average. In 2008, there were in fact 123.4 inhabitants per km2 in Abruzzo, compared to a national average of 198.8. At the province level, the situation is quite varied: Pescara is the most densely populated province (260.1 inhabitants per km2 in 2008), whereas, at the other extreme, L'Aquila is the least densely populated one (61.3 inhabitants per km2 in 2008), although it has the largest area. After decades of emigration from the region, the main feature of the 1980s is the immigration from third world countries. The population increase is due to the positive net migration, as since 1991 more deaths than births were registered in Abruzzo (except for 1999, when their number was equal).^[13] In 2008, the Italian national institute of statistics ISTAT estimated that 59,749 foreign-born immigrants live in Abruzzo, equal to 4.5% of the total regional population.

The most serious demographic imbalance is between the mountainous areas of the interior and the coastal strip. The largest province, L'Aquila, is situated entirely in the interior and has the lowest population density. The movement of the population of Abruzzo from the mountains to the sea has led to the almost complete urbanisation of the entire coastal strip. The effects on the interior have been impoverishment and a demographic ageing, reflected by an activity rate in the province of L'Aquila which is the lowest of the provinces in Abruzzo – accompanied by geological degradation as a result of the absence of conservation measures. In the coastal strip, on the other hand, there is such a jumble of accommodation and activities that the environment has been changed with negative effects. The policy of providing incentives for development has resulted in the setting-up of industrial zones, some of which (Vasto, Avezzano, Carsoli, Gissi, Val Vibrata, Val Sangro) have made genuine progress, while others (Val Pescara, L'Aquila) have run into trouble after initial success. The zones of Sulmona and Guardiagrele have turned out to be more or less failures. Outside these zones, the main activities are agriculture and tourism.^[13]

Major Cities[link]

The medieval town of Teramo.

L'Aquila is both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila and second largest city (pop. 73,000). L'Aquila was hit by an earthquake on 6 April 2009 which destroyed much of the city centre. The other provincial capitals are Pescara, which is Abruzzo's largest city and major port (pop. 123,000); Teramo (pop. 55,000) and Chieti (pop. 55,000). Other large municipalities in Abruzzo include Avezzano (pop.41,000), an industrial and high technology center, Vasto (population 40,636), Lanciano (population 36,000), and Sulmona (population 25,000) are three important industrial and touristic centers.

Transport and mobility[link]

Airports[link]

• Abruzzo International Airport is the only international airport in the region. Open to civilian traffic since 1996, has seen over the years more and more increase the number of transit passengers thanks to the airlines and low-cost flights. Today, the airport has a catchment area of over 400,000 passengers annually and connects the city of Pescara and the entire region with many Italian and European destinations.

• L'Aquila-Preturo Airport is located in the nearby village of Courts and was recently renovated and modernized to accommodate flights presidential G8, specifically moved into the city after the earthquake in the Abruzzi. Soon the airport will also be open to civilian traffic.

Ports[link]

In Abruzzo are 4 main ports:

• Port of Pescara
• Port of Ortona
• Port of Vasto
• Port of Giulianova

The Port of Pescara over the years has become one of the most important touristic ports of Italy and the Adriatic Sea, over 60 years suffered 'a major restoration and was born like a modern marina which has moorings and facilities to shipbuilding 'vanguard. For some years been honored with the Blue flag's European Union for the quality of services offered. Over the years, the port of Pescara has lost its commercial vocation at the expense of passenger traffic, traffic that is growing approximately three years while maintaining a thriving market fishing and of 'aquaculture.

Rail services[link]

Regarding rail transport, there is a significant disparity between the Abruzzo coast – modern art -and that of inland areas, very poor in terms of modernity and quality of service and waiting decades of development interventions and modernization (see in particular the Rome-Pescara line). For some routes it has reached the situation where road transport is much faster than rail, which sometimes have schedules similar to those of over a century ago, and that often leads people to use buses instead of trains.

Existing railway lines:

• Ferrovia Adriatica (through the whole of Italy from north to south, along the Adriatic Sea): The question that interests the Abruzzo region is included in the Towns of Martinsicuro and S. Unless, that delimit the borders with Marche and Molise regions, namely, the 113 km (70.21 mi) between the stations of intercurrent Alba Adriatica-Nereto-Controguerra and Broad-S. Salvo. The interchanges are made by the respective railway lines Giulianova Teramo and Pescara-Rome.
• Train Rome – Sulmona – Pescara: Pescara-Rome railway line is along the railway line Bologna-Bari on the Adriatic other line is important because through the Tyrrhenian coast, passing through the provinces of Pescara, Chieti and L'Aquila and ends the path to Roma Tiburtina station. The railway which covers the Abruzzo Region, lies in 170 km (105.63 mi), ranging from municipalities to the province of Pescara Carsoli, and Oricola Pereto. The infrastructure in question is the following interchanges: Sulmona, Isernia, Terni-Sulmona, Avezzano-Roccasecca, Bologna and Bari.
• Sulmona – Carpinone: the infrastructure in question is a continuation to the south of Terni-Sulmona, as part of the intermediate cross-Pescara Naples. After that Brenner is the highest railway station in Italy, whose tortuous path, characterized by steep slopes, passing through the station Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo and wedges in the Abruzzo National Park and the Maiella. The line is the interchanges of railway lines Rome-Pescara and Sulmona – L'Aquila – Rieti – Terni. Reached Carpinone, divides west to east to Benevento and Caserta.
• Sulmona – Terni: Trafficking in question connects the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo, Molise and then along the line-Carpinone Sulmona. It therefore crosses the inner Abruzzo, finding interchanges Avezzano and Pescara-Rome-Roccasecca, in their respective provinces of L'Aquila, Terni and Rieti. It concerns a type of regional traffic in that, across the Tyrrhenian perpendicular colleague Abruzzo, Umbria, Lazio and Molise. The question of interest is included in the Abruzzo town of Sulmona and Tornimparte and more precisely in the stations 75 km (46.60 mi) intercurrent Sulmona and saddle horn.
• Avezzano railroad – Roccasecca: infrastructure test starts on the track in the town of Avezzano, crosses the territory of Marsica, passes through the valley and Bush get into the Lazio region, in the town of Sora. Her journey ends in the town of Roccasecca which marks the end of Lazio and the entry in the Campania region towards Cassino. Therefore the only online exchange that meets the railway line is Pescara – Rome station Avezzano.
• Giulianova – Teramo (a branch railway line Adriatic you forward towards the interior until Teramo) railway line Giulianova Teramo, the network is complementary to the Adriatic, fulfilling a liaison function between the capital and the coast. Therefore, the only rail interchange is characterized by the Adriatic railway line Bologna – Bari, Abruzzo is Martinsicuro rail-Broad-S. Salvo. With its 24 km (14.91 mi) journey infrastructure is the result, a SS80 along the path to the location of the industrial districts of Teramo, before merging the SS 16 that accesses the port Giulianova.
• Sangritana (Lanciano – Castel di Sangro): The infrastructure in question are an important transition between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, as in Pescara station meets the respective points of connection of the FS Bologna – Bari and Pescara – Rome, while that of Sulmona, L'Aquila lines FS – Terni and Sulmona – Carpinone. This position transition, attributed to the infrastructure an important strategic military role in World War II, a stage when the bombing of the German armed forces air, marked the temporary suspension of the subject line of repair work. Like other regional railways direct Aquila, Sulmona and Roccasecca, through a circuitous route mountain typically characterized by steep slopes, although in terms of localization of production facilities is to signal the passage of the railway in the industrial area of Valle del Sangro .

Highways[link]

Overview of the route east of the tunnel just before the Great Sassola road and motorway network in the Abruzzo region is relatively well developed, there are three highways that serve the region:

• Highway A24 Roma – Aquila – Teramo, was built in the 70s and connects Rome with Lazio and more specifically to the Abruzzo Teramo via L'Aquila, performs an important liaison function of the region, both Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic, due to the presence of several knots of connection roads and highways. Numerous infrastructure connecting adjacent junction as directional Torano it branches in the A25 to Pescara, Teramo to Giulianova on SS80, SS81 to Chieti and on the A14 Bologna-Taranto, exit on the freeway Rieti Valley Jump -Terni, exit west on SS80 to L'Aquila Teramo, near Tivoli and the connection to the A1 motorway allows easy connections with Naples and Milan, the highway construction has contributed greatly to the economic development of the region .
• Highway A25 Torano – Avezzano – Pescara allows the connection between Rome and Pescara, as of the release of Torano begins its journey where it intersects with the A24, flows in the Conca Fucino exceeds the Appennino Abruzzese coming to Peligna Valley and ends at 'exit Pescara-Villanova to join the A14.
• Motorway A14 Bologna – Taranto said the A14 "Adriatica" includes 743 km (461.68 mi) of route, including the cities of Bologna and Taranto. Inaugurated in 1965 is now a major tourist infrastructure, as through the coastal towns of Emilia Romagna, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia. Abruzzo is the infrastructure in question, including the toll of South Broad and Val Vibrata, which mark the border with the Marche and Molise. Regarding the links, the A14 meets the SS16 (which was necessarily walked before his execution), the SS652 Bottom Sangro Valley near Broad and SS80 in Giulianova.

Government and politics[link]

Abruzzo provinces

Administrative divisions[link]

The region is divided into 4 provinces:

Culture[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

In the past, the region of Abruzzo was well known for the transumanza, the migratory movement of sheep principally south to the region of Puglia during the cold winter months.

The regional accents of Abruzzo include Teramano, Abruzzese Orientale Adriatico and Abruzzese Occidentale. The first two form part of the Italiano meridionale-interno dialect of southern Italy also known simply as "Neapolitan" due to the region having been part of the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies, while the Italian of L'Aquila Province is related to the Osco-Umbro dialect of central Italy, including the one of Rome. It should be noted that Abruzzo's Italian dialects are not particularly marked. In fact, Harvard University bases an intensive summer language program in Vasto, a resort town on Abruzzo's southern coast. There is, however, a small Albanian linguistic area at Penne, in the Province of Pescara.

Among Abruzzo many historic towns are: Sulmona at the foot of the Maiella massif and known for Italy's most famous ancient poet, Ovid; Scanno, a lakeside hill town; Atri a picturesque artistic center; and the hillside towns of Penne; Lanciano and Loreto Aprutino.

Dialects[link]

The dialects spoken in the Abruzzo region and can be divided into three main groups:

• Sabine dialect, in the province of L'Aquila (central Italian dialects)
• Abruzzo Adriatic dialect, in the province of Teramo, Pescara and Chieti, that is virtually abandoned in the province of Ascoli Piceno (southern Italian dialects)
• Abruzzo western dialect, in the province of L'Aquila (southern Italian dialects)

Medieval and Renaissance hill towns[link]

Abruzzo holds many of Italy's best-preserved medieval and Renaissance hill towns. The abrupt decline of Abruzzo's agricultural economy in the early to mid-20th century saved some of the region’s most beautiful hill towns from the onslaught of modern development. Many lie entirely within regional and national parks so their preservation is all but guaranteed. Among the most well preserved are Castel del Monte and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which lie in the Gran Sasso National Park on the edge of the high plain of Campo Imperatore and nestled beneath the Apennines’ highest peaks; both hill towns, which were ruled by the Medicis for over a century-and-a-half, have relatively little tourism. Between the two towns sits Rocca di Calascio, the ruin of an ancient fortress popular with film makers. Also within the Gran Sasso National Park is Castelli, an ancient pottery center whose artisans produced ceramics for most of the royal houses of Europe. Although still home to many artisans, Castelli has a modest tourist trade. Other medieval hill towns located fully within Abruzzo's park system are Pacentro in the Parco Nazionale della Majella and Pescasseroli in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo. Pacentro, which features a 14th century castle with two intact towers, has been little touched by modernization.

Universities[link]

There are three universities in the Abruzzo region:

• University of L'Aquila
• University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti and Pescara
• University of Teramo

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abruzzo

• Official site of the regional administration
• Map of Abruzzo
• In the land of bears and castles, Financial Times, 29 June 2007
• Italy as it used to be The Guardian, 16 April 2005
• Life in Abruzzo,a chronicle of Abruzzo life written from a hill village in the Gran Sasso Mountains
• Italian lifestyle – pictures from Abruzzo
• Ski resorts in Abruzzo
• Abruzzo Travel Introduction VIDEO
• Abruzzoabc – photos from Abruzzo
• Abruzzo Houses for Holiday Rental
• Tourism Guide
• Abruzzo travel guide from Wikitravel

v t e Abruzzo Provinces and places Chieti L'Aquila Pescara Teramo Politics and government Elections in Abruzzo List of Presidents of Abruzzo

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Gianna Nannini
Gianna Nannini live at Villa Manin, Codroipo Italy in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Gianna Nannini
Born	(1954-06-14) 14 June 1954 (age 58)
Origin	Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Genres	Pop music
Instruments	vocals, piano, guitar, violin
Years active	1976–present
Website	GiannaNannini.com

Gianna Nannini (born 14 June 1954) is an Italian female singer-songwriter and pop musician. She may be best known for her 1986 song "Bello e Impossibile".

Personal life[link]

Born in Siena on 14 June 1954^[1], Nannini studied piano in Lucca and then composition in Milan. She is the older sister of former Formula One racing driver Alessandro Nannini. She graduated in philosophy from the University of Siena in 1994. The following year she took part in a protest organized by Greenpeace at the French embassy in Rome against the decision of the French government to pursue nuclear experiments at Mururoa. In August 2010 she announced that she was pregnant and that she would dedicate the upcoming album to her child.^[2] Gianna showed off her pregnancy on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine wearing a T-shirt with the inscription ‘God is a woman’. On 26 November 2010 at 12am Nannini's daughter Penelope Jane Charlotte was born on the seventh floor of the Madonnina Clinic in Milan. The girl weighed 2.530 kilos and was 48 cm long.^[3]

Musical career[link]

Her first hit was in 1979 with the single "America" and the album California, which became a success in several European countries. The rise to fame in Italy started in 1984 with the release of her sixth album, Puzzle. This album peaked in the top 10 at the Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss hit-parades. She sang for the videoclip "Fotoromanza" (directed by Michelangelo Antonioni), won several musical awards and started a European tour, including a participation at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1986, her hit "Bello e Impossibile" was a huge success and brought her more awards in Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Her 1987 compilation Maschi e Altri sold over a million copies.

In 2004, she released a kind of Greatest Hits compilation, but the songs were all re-recorded for the occasion. The CD Perle contains a number of her former hits in new arrangements. Backup-musicians were Christian Lohr on piano (who also is co-producer), and a stringquartet: Vincenzo di Donna (first violin), Luigi de Maio (second violin), Gerardo Morrone (viola), Antonio di Franca (violoncello). With this orchestra Gianna went on a "Perle-tour" in central Europe during 2004-2005.

The album Grazie was released in February 2006, and peaked at number one of the Italian hit-parade with the single "Sei nell'anima". During the summer of 2006, she toured all over Italy as promotion for the album. "Io", another track from the album, also became a big hit.

In April 2007, she released Pia Come la Canto Io, a collection of songs written for a pop opera that was performed in 2008. This work was eleven years in the making, and is based on the medieval Tuscan character Pia de' Tolomei (mentioned briefly in Dante's Purgatorio). The album was produced by Wil Malone, who also produced Grazie.

An acoustic version of her song Meravigliosa Creatura (from Perle) has been used in a 2008 advertisement spot for the Fiat Bravo directed by Matthias Zentner. The song and the spot have achieved such a success to take Perle to the Italian top 50 in sales, and Fiat would later include a Gianna Nannini song Aria in another Fiat Bravo ad.

Duets[link]

In 1987, selling over a million copies with the compilation and other Males: The male is the new hit premiered at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo. On 1 May 1987 he performed with Sting and Jack Bruce Threepenny Opera (Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill) at the Schauspielhaus in Hamburg. In 1990, she and Edoardo Bennato sang "Un'estate italiana", the official song of the Football World Cup 1990. In September 2006, she recorded the CD single "Ama Credi E Vai" with Andrea Bocelli. Nannini was also featured on Einstürzende Neubauten member Alexander Hacke's solo album Sanctuary, on the track "Per Sempre Butterfly". In 2008 she duetted with the Italien rapper Fabri Fibra in his videoclip version of the song "In Italia".In summer open concert of Bon Jovi in Germany during their Lost Highway Tour, proving a great success. She also sang the song "Aria" with the Macedonian singer Toše Proeski.

Actuality[link]

Gianna Nannini is very popular both in Italy and elsewhere in Europe and well established abroad. In her long career spanning thirty-six years she has received over 61 platinum and diamond disks, establishing herself as one of the greatest Italian rock artists.

Retires in 2012, throughout the year, the music scene to concentrate on production of a new album and the growth of Penelope.

Discography[link]

• Gianna Nannini (1976)
• Una radura (1977)
• California (1979)
• G. N. (1981)
• Sconcerto Rock (1981, soundtrack)
• Latin Lover (1982)
• Puzzle (1984)
• Tutto Live (1985, live)
• Profumo (1986)
• Maschi e Altri (1987, compilation)
• Malafemmina (1988)
• Scandalo (1990)
• Giannissima (1991, live)
• Maschi e altri [Chicos y otros](1992, Spanish language version)
• X Forza E X Amore (1993)
• Dispetto (1995)
• Bomboloni (1996, compilation) including a song about bombolone (pastry)
• Cuore (1998)
• Momo (2002, soundtrack)
• Aria (2002) #7 (ITA), #29 (SUI)
• Perle (2004) #6 (ITA), #22 (SUI)
• Grazie (2006) #1 (ITA), #12 (SUI), #32 (GER) ( Italy 7x platinum )
• Pia come la canto io (2007) #5 (ITA)
• Giannabest (2007, compilation) #1 (ITA), #15 (POR), #23 (SUI), #32 (GER) ( Italy 7x Platinum )
• Giannadream - Solo I Sogni Sono Veri (2009) (ITA #2) ( ITA 4x Platinum )
• Extradream - Solo I Sogni Sono Veri (2010)
• Io e te (2011) ( ITA #1 ) ( ITA Gold )

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gianna Nannini

• Gianna Nannini official site
• Review of Giannadream (in English)

Laura Pausini
Pausini on 30 April 2009, performing in Barcelona during her World Tour 2009
Background information
Birth name	Laura Alice Rossella Pausini
Born	(1974-05-16) 16 May 1974 (age 38) Solarolo, Province of Ravenna, Italy
Origin	Emilia–Romagna, Italy
Genres	Soul, pop, pop rock, Latin pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1993–present
Labels	CGD, CGD East West, Atlantic, Warner
Associated acts	Eros Ramazzotti, Hélène Segara, Andrea Bocelli, Tiziano Ferro
Website	www.laurapausini.com

Laura Alice Rossella Pausini, omri (Italian pronunciation: [pauˈziːni]; born 16 May 1974) is an Italian soul singer-songwriter. She debuted in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine",^[1] which became an Italian standard^[2] and an international hit, reaching the top spot on the Italian Singles Chart^[3] and the top 10 in France and the Netherlands.^[4]

Her eponymous debut album was released in Italy on 18 May 1993 and later became an international success, selling two million copies worldwide.^[5] Her second studio album, Laura, was released in 1994 and confirmed her success, selling 3,000,000 copies worldwide^[6] and spawning the hit singles "Strani amori" and "Gente". In November 1994 she released her first Spanish language album, titled Laura Pausini and composed of ten songs included in her previous works. The album was certified Diamond by the Association of Phonographic and Videographic of Spain,^[7] making her the first non-Spanish artist to sell more than 1,000,000 copies in Spain.^[8]

During her career, she won three Latin Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, with her records Escucha (2005),^[9] Yo canto (2007)^[10] and Primavera anticipada (2009).^[11] On 8 February 2006 she also became the first Italian female artist to win a Grammy Award,^[12] receiving the prize for Best Latin Pop Album with Escucha.^[13] As of November 2011, she had released 10 Italian-language studio albums, 9 Spanish-language albums and a greatest hits album. In 2004, Allmusic's Jason Birchmeier considered Pausini's sales "an impressive feat for someone who'd never really broken into the lucrative English–language market".^[14]

Biography[link]

Childhood and early beginnings[link]

The elder of two daughters, Laura Pausini was born in Faenza (Province of Ravenna, Italy)^[15] to Fabrizio Pausini and Gianna Ballardini^[16] and raised in Solarolo.^[17][A] Her first live performance was on 16 May 1985, when she sang together with her father in a piano bar in Bologna.^[18] Since then, her father started giving her singing lessons^[19] and she continued to perform alongside him in local piano bars. In the meanwhile, she also started singing in a church choir.^[20]

In 1987 she recorded her first demo album, produced by her father and released to promote her live shows. Titled I sogni di Laura, it consisted of 8 covers and 5 new songs.^[21] In 1991 she participated in the Castrocaro Music Festival singing Liza Minnelli's "New York, New York", but failed to reach the final stage of the competition.^[18]

Career breakthrough: 1993[link]

Her career was launched in 1993, when she debuted in the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd San Remo Music Festival. On 27 February, she won the competition with her entry "La solitudine",^[1] which later became one of her best-known hits.^[22] In March 1993, the song peaked at number one on the Italian Singles Chart,^[3] maintaining the top spot for three consecutive weeks.^[23] Following the success obtained with her first single, she signed a contract with Warner Music Italy to produce her first professional album, Laura Pausini.^[24] Released by CGD Records in May 1993,^[17] the album reached the sixth position on the Italian Albums Chart,^[25] selling 400,000 copies in Italy.^[26]

In late 1993, the album was released in the rest of Europe, peaking at number three on the Dutch Albums Chart.^[27] Moreover, "La solitudine" became a radio hit in Belgium and the Netherlands,^[28] and peaked at number five on the French Singles Chart and at number two on the Dutch Singles Chart.^[4]

The album also spawned the singles "Non c'è" and "Perché non torna più".

Spanish-language debut and international success: 1994–1995[link]

In February 1994, Pausini participated for the second time in the Sanremo Music Festival, competing in the "Big Artists" section with the song "Strani amori". The song ranked third in the competition^[29] and was included in her second studio album, Laura, released in February 1994. According to CGD Records, the album sold 150,000 copies in Italy in its first week, with initial shipments of 200,000 copies.^[30] It also peaked at number one on the Dutch Albums Chart and entered the charts in Belgium and Switzerland,^[31] selling three million copies worldwide.^[6] Other singles from the album were "Gente", "Lui non sta con te" and "Lettera".

In November 1994, Pausini released her first Spanish-language album, Laura Pausini, a compilation of ten adapted versions of hits from her first two Italian albums. The record became the best selling album of 1994 in Spain^[32][33] and was later certified Diamond by the Association of Phonographic and Videographic of Spain,^[7] selling more than 1,000,000 copies in Spain and making Pausini the first non-Spanish artist to achieve this result.^[8]

The album was successful in Latin America too, being certified Platinum by the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers^[34] and by the Asociación Colombiana de Productores de Fonogramas.^[35] Moreover, the first four singles from the album, "La soledad", "Se fue", "Amores extraños" and "Gente", entered the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.^[36] Thanks to these results, Billboard ranked Pausini the second female revelation of 1994, after Mariah Carey.^[37][38] In 1995 Pausini also received the World Music Award for Best Selling Italian Recording Artist^[39] and the Lo Nuestro Award for Best New Artist of the Year.^[37][40]

Pausini's first record for the Anglophone market was a self-titled compilation released in 1995, including 9 Italian-language hits and an English-language version of her first single, "La solitudine (Loneliness)",^[41] adapted by Tim Rice^[42] and released as a single in the United Kingdom on 19 June 1995. However, the album and the single failed to chart.

[edit] Third album and World Wide Tour 1997: 1996–1997

Following the success obtained by Pausini's debut Spanish album, her third album was released in 1996 both in Italian and Spanish, starting "a practice that [has] come to define her career and compound her success".^[14] The album, titled Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives, was released on 12 September 1996 and was preceded by the single "Incancellabile".^[43] A special edition of the album was released in Brazil, featuring three additional bonus tracks in Portuguese.^[44]

On 1 March 1997, Pausini launched from Ginevra the World Wide Tour in support of her new album, giving concerts around the world for four months.^[45] The album sold 3,500,000 million copies worldwide^[6] and was certified Platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, for European sales exceeding 1,000,000 copies.^[46]

[edit] La mia risposta / Mi respuesta and second World Tour: 1998–1999

In 1998, Pausini released La mia risposta / Mi respuesta, her fourth studio album, including a song penned by Phil Collins.^[47] The album was dubbed by music critics as a mature work, with influences from soul music,^[47] but was a moderate commercial success, selling two million copies worldwide.^[6]

To promote the album, Pausini began in early 1999 the La mia risposta World Tour '99, during which she performed in theatres throughout Europe.^[48] On 1 June 1999, she was one of the artists performing along with Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti in Modena during his annual "Pavarotti and Friends" concert.^[49] Pavarotti and Pausini duetted in the Italian version of the aria Dein ist mein ganzes Herz, titled Tu che m'hai preso il cuor, from Franz Lehár's operetta Das Land des Lächelns. The live performance was later included in the album Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Guatemala and Kosovo.^[50]

In 1999 she also contributed the Richard Marx composition "One More Time" to the Message in a Bottle soundtrack.^[51] The track was produced by David Foster^[52] who was featured on piano.

[edit] Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares and greatest hits album: 2000–2001

In 2000, she recorded the song "The Extra Mile" for the soundtrack of the movie Pokémon 2000: The Power of One.^[53][54] The song was included in the album Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares, released on 11 September 2000 and preceded by the homonymous single, written by the Italian pop singer Biagio Antonacci.^[55] The album also features the song "Viaggio con te", awarded in 2001 with the Italian Lunezia Award for Best Songwriter of the Year.^[56]

2001 saw the release of Pausini's first hits compilation both in Italian and Spanish: The Best of Laura Pausini: E ritorno da te / Lo mejor de Laura Pausini: Volveré junto a ti. The first single's video, "E ritorno da te" / "Volveré junto a ti", was filmed by Italian film director Gabriele Muccino.^[57] The album also includes the single "Una storia che vale" and features guest appearances by Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil in "Seamisai"^[58] and by Italian singer Nek, who plays the bass in "Non c'è".^[59] Supported by the 2001/2002 World Tour, which started in Miami on 19 October 2001,^[58] the greatest hits became one of Pausini's biggest commercial successes, selling 700,000 copies in Italy and 800,000 copies in France.^[60]

On 30 November 2002, Pausini released Live 2001-2002 World Tour, her first live DVD, filmed during the concert she gave in Milan on 2 December 2001.^[61][62]

[edit] From the Inside, the debut in the United States: 2002–2003

In 2001, Pausini started working with producers such as Patrick Leonard and John Shanks^[63] on her first English language album, From the Inside.^[64] Released in Canada, Mexico and the United States by Atlantic Records on 5 November 2002, the album did not get the expected success, selling 100,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen-Soundscan.^[65] The album singles "Surrender" and "If That's Love" reached the top spot on the Hot Dance Club Songs Chart,^[66] but Pausini, disappointed at her English language debut being ignored in the U.S. outside the club scene, abandoned the promotion for From the Inside.^[67] The album was later released in Europe too, selling 800,000 copies worldwide.^[60]

In 2003 Luciano Pavarotti invited her for the second time to the "Pavarotti and Friends" concert, where they duetted again in "Tu che m'hai preso il cuor".^[68]

[edit] Resta in ascolto / Escucha and the Grammy: 2004–2005

Laura Pausini during the presentation of her album Resta in ascolto / Escucha in 2004.

In October 2004 Pausini released her eight studio album, Resta in ascolto / Escucha. Influenced by international artists including Phil Collins and Celine Dion,^[69] the recording is on the subject of a break-up and was written in 2002, during her separation from her ex-boyfriend and producer Alfredo Cerruti.^[70]

The album features the song "Mi abbandono a te" / "Me abandono a ti", co-written by Pausini, Rick Nowels and Madonna. It also includes the ballad "Vivimi" / "Viveme", written by Biagio Antonacci, and the single "Benedetta passione" / "Bendecida pasión", penned by Italian rock-star Vasco Rossi.^[71] Well received by music critics,^[72][73] the album is mainly focused on themes of anger, bitterness,^[70] desire for independence^[74] and interior peace,^[71] but also features a song about the Iraq War, in which Pausini sings about Ali Ismail Abbas, a boy who was severely injured in a nighttime rocket attack near Baghdad in 2003.^[75]

The album debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart^[76] and sold 350,000 copies in Italy.^[77] Its Spanish version later won Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2005^[9] and Best Latin Pop Album at the 48th Grammy Awards,^[13] making Pausini the first Italian female artist to win a Grammy Award.^[12]

Pausini made a guest appearance on Michael Bublé's 2005 live album Caught in the Act, singing a duet with Bublé of Lou Rawls' hit "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". The duet was placed on both the audio CD, and the full concert DVD that aired on PBS as an episode of Great Performances.

At the 2006 Lo Nuestro Award, Pausini was nominated in the sections Album of the Year for Escucha, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Viveme"^[78] and won the Award for Best Female Pop Artist.^[79]

In January 2005, Pausini started a new tour to promote the album.^[80] The concerts she gave at the Zénith de Paris on 22 and 23 March 2005 were filmed and released as a live album in November 2005, titled Live in Paris 05.^[81]

[edit] Io canto and the concert in San Siro: 2006–2007

Pausini performing during the Festival Teatro-Canzone, in memory of Italian singer Giorgio Gaber, on 21 July 2007.

In November 2006, Pausini released the album Io canto / Yo canto, consisting of covers of Italian pop rock songs.^[82] On the album liner notes, Pausini wrote: "here is the music I listen to when I'm at my saddest, or when I feel a moment is special, the songs I used to sing as a young girl when I first started performing, and above all those which taught me to love music, and how music can move you so deeply, regardless of its genre or style".^[83]

The album also features duets with Tiziano Ferro, Juanes and Johnny Hallyday.^[84] It debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart and held the top spot for 8 non-consecutive weeks.^[85] It also became the best-selling album of 2006 in Italy, selling 500,000 copies in less than two months.^[86] On 8 November 2007, the album won Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.^[10] Laura dedicated the award to the memory of Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.^[87][88] Later on during the show she sang "Vivere (Dare to Live)" alongside Italian singer Andrea Bocelli.^[10]

In Summer 2006, Pausini played a Juntos en Concierto tour with Marc Anthony and Marco Antonio Solís,^[89] consisting of 20 concerts throughout the United States.^[90]

On 2 June 2007, Laura Pausini was the first female artist to play at the San Siro Stadium in Milan,^[91] in front of a crowd of 70,000 spectators.^[92] On 30 November 2007, the concert was released on CD and DVD, under the title San Siro 2007.^[93]

[edit] Primavera in anticipo, Amiche per l'Abruzzo and Laura Live World Tour 09: 2008–2010

Pausini spent the first months of 2008 recording her tenth studio album, Primavera in anticipo / Primavera anticipada. The Spanish language edition of the album was released on 11 November 2008,^[94] while the Italian language edition was released in Italy on 14 November 2008.^[95] The album was preceded by the single "Invece no" / "En cambio no", released on 24 October 2008^[96] and promoted with an appearance in Piazza Trinità dei Monti in Rome on 14 November 2008.^[97] The album also features a the single "Primavera in anticipo (It Is My Song)" / Primavera anticipada (It Is My Song)", a duet with British singer-songwriter James Blunt.^[98] In November 2009 the album won Best Female Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.^[11] In 2010 Pausini also won the Lo Nuestro Award for Female Artist of the Year.^[99]

Laura Pausini during the mega-concert Amiche per l'Abruzzo on 21 June 2009

On 21 June 2009, Pausini organized a mega-concert in the San Siro Stadium in Milan, raising money to support the victims of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. The concert, named Amiche per l'Abruzzo, involved 43 Italian female singers^[100] and was later released on a DVD, which sold 250,000 copies in Italy.^[101]

In the meanwhile, Pausini began on 5 March 2009 from Turin the World Tour 2009,^[102] which reached Europe in May 2009^[102] and then South America and the United States in Autumn 2009.^[103][104] The last leg of the tour took place in Italy in November 2009.^[105] A CD of the tour, along with a DVD, was released on 27 November 2009 with the title Laura Live World Tour 09 / Laura Live Gira Mundial 09.^[106] The album also includes three new song, the singles "Con la musica alla radio" / "Con la musica en la radio", "Non sono lei" / "Ella no soy" and "Casomai" / "Menos mal".^[106]

[edit] Inedito and the 2012 World Tour: 2011–present

Laura Pausini during a show from the Inedito World Tour in January 2012

On 30 December 2010, Pausini announced her eleventh studio album,^[107] Inedito / Inédito, released both in Italian and Spanish on 11 November 2011.^[108] The title and the tracklist of the album were announced through Pausini's website on 10 September 2011. The first single from the album, "Benvenuto" / "Bienvenido", was released on 12 September 2011.^[109][110]

In order to promote the album, Pausini engaged the Inedito World Tour, starting with 11 shows in Italy in late December 2011.^[111] The tour reached Latin America in January and February 2012,.^[112] The European leg of her tour visited the principle arenas of France,Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Holland, and concluded at the Royal Albert hall in London. ef>"Laura Pausini, le date del tour europeo" (in Italian). musica.excite.it. 11 April 2011. http://musica.excite.it/laura-pausini-tour-europeo-2011-tutte-le-N70779.html. Retrieved 30 July 2011. </ref>

The album also spawned the singles "Non ho mai smesso"^[113] / "Jamás abandoné",^[114] "Bastava" / "Bastaba"^[115] and "Mi tengo" / "Me quedo".

Artistry[link]

Laura Pausini is described as a mezzo-soprano^[116] with a classic and powerful voice.^[117][118] Due to her voice, Pausini has been compared by music critics to various female artists, including Milva,^[119] Celine Dion,^[120][121] Mariah Carey^[121] and Barbra Streisand.^[122]

At the beginning of her career, she has been described by music critics as a teen idol^[123] mainly singing about adolescent love affairs and problems.^{[124][125][126]} She was also strongly criticized for her songs, described as too much melancholic^[127] and trivial.^[128] Starting from her 1998's La mia risposta / Mi respuesta, Italian music critics considered her as a more mature singer^[124] and later praised her simplicity^[129] and her voice,^[130] describing Pausini as an interpret of her years.^[131]

Although her music is mainly based on typical Italian melody,^{[132][133][134]} her musical style evolved during her career, with influences from various genres, including Latin music,^[135] soul music^[8][47] and rock music.^[136] According to Musica e dischi's Antonio Orlando, the key elements in Pausini's style are romanticism, optimism, melancholy and surrounding melodies.^[137]

Starting from her 1996's album Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives, Pausini has also co-wrote most of her songs^[137][138] and starting from her 1998's La mia risposta / Mi respuesta she has been involved in the production of her albums.^[139]

Personal life[link]

Pausini left her hometown in 1995, when she moved to Milan with her partner, manager and producer Alfredo Cerruti Jr.^[140][141] Their relationship ended in 2002. Between 2002 and 2005 Pausini was romantically involved with her new manager, Gabriele Parisi.^[70] She is currently engaged with the Italian guitarist, composer, music producer and former singer Paolo Carta.^[142][143]

Pausini describes herself as a Roman Catholic woman,^[53][144] but expressed doubts about Roman Church's position on various themes, including contraception, abortion and premarital sex.^[145] In September 2000 she explained her position during an interview to the Italian newspaper la Repubblica:^[53]

I believe so much in God, and the Pope is the man I want to meet the most in the world. I've known him in 1996. I just have a few doubts about the Catholic Church, like for example the discrimination against homosexuals. I don't understand why they condemn racism, but at the same time they take issue with gay people.

Honours[link]

– Commander Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: Awarded the fourth highest civil honor in Italy, by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on 6 February 2006.

Discography[link]

• 1993: Laura Pausini
• 1994: Laura
• 1994: Laura Pausini (Spanish)
• 1996: Le cose che vivi / Las cosas que vives
• 1998: La mia risposta / Mi respuesta
• 2000: Tra te e il mare / Entre tú y mil mares
• 2002: From the Inside
• 2004: Resta in ascolto / Escucha
• 2006: Io canto / Yo canto
• 2008: Primavera in anticipo / Primavera anticipada
• 2011: Inedito / Inédito

Tours[link]

Awards[link]

Notes[link]

References[link]