Ricostruire = conoscere e interpretare l’evoluzione storica degli insediamenti. Ovindoli

Ovindoli, San Potito and Santa Jona are “borderlands”. As a matter of fact, they are located between two large oro-geographic blocks: the Altopiano (to which they belong by location) and the Fucino Basin. Therefore, their history reflects the events of the basin, especially during both prehistoric and Roman times, but also the influence of L’Aquila, since the Middle Ages. The genesis of the three centres can be traced back to a period that spans between the 9th and the 13th centuries. The typological and constructive characters of the ruins of the ancient fortifications, which are still present on the sites, suggest that the construction of the following defences dates from the 13th century. The available historical sources do not provide reliable data. Therefore, it was very important the direct study of the sites. However, there are important documents. In 1527, Ovindoli has 104 “fuochi” (families), i.e. the town is not entirely small. In 1595, the family groups surveyed are 132, showing a clear demographic expansion. In this phase the growth occurred along the route of access to the village, with a “comb” system. The plot of the lots is trapezoidal, with rotations and intersections in the paths matrix. The housing system is made of terraced houses and their variants: “city-walls house” (dwelling and fortification at the same time), “city-walls arch house” (as the city- walls house but presenting an access to the city) and back-to-back terraced house. “Profferlo” (external) stairs are also used, which, however, emphasize the fragmentation of collective urban spaces, increasing the presence of fluctuations, residues and gaps. The Rivele of Onciario, the land register of the 1753, fix Ovindoli’s population at approximately 900 people (122 householders). The descriptions of properties allow the reconstruction of the density of the urban centre. A fair number of houses, registered in the documents in the locality called “under the Tower”, could be identified in the building system close to Porta Mutiati. There is a significant presence of buildings in the area known as the “cona”, close to Palazzo Rinaldi, as well as in the one called “under the church”. On the contrary, stables seem to be concentrated in the neighbourhood known as “the morrone”. In the 19th century, Ovindoli, San Potito and Santa Jona have experienced a significant growth linked to privatisation of land, development of sheep farming and growth of private property. In this period, the urban centres began to grow and new singularities are formed. The works planned at the beginning of the 19th century are not many. In 1831 there are small restorations to the churches of San Sebastiano, San Potito and Santa Maria. There are allocations for roads, for the renovations of the bakery, of the mill, of the fountain in San Potito, of the rectory and the church of San Sebastiano. Urban sprawl is the most important phenomenon following the unification of Italy. In Ovindoli, in particular, there are significant increases in both quantity and quality of the constructions since the beginning of the 20th century.