The city of L’Aquila has always been tied to the number 99: 99 castles, 99 churches, squares and fountains, 99 jets e 99 tolls of the cathedral bell. The explanation to such a big number of churches, buildings, squares and fountains derives from the genesis of the city. According to the tradition, the foundation of the city was planned by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and his son Conrad IV in the 3rd century. Those who executed their plans were the inhabitants of 99 castles supposedly situated in the Aquilan basin. Each castle was given a room where it could build its district and provide for the building of the main urbanization works, such as a square, a fountain and a church. In this way there were several little separated quarters, distinct in the name, which recalled the original castles, but united by the same voice: “Aquila”. This is why the number 99 recurs so many times, with churches, squares and fountains that can be still appreciated. Besides, in order to feed this tradition, every day at sunset the bell of the Torre Civica still strikes 99 tolls.

After the foundation of the city it was necessary to rise walls to defend it from irruptions of mercenaries and the size of these walls shows that the city had lived in that period an important increase in population and urbanisation.
L’Aquila acquired such political and military importance that Pope Alexander IV chose it as diocese, transferring the ancient bishopric from Forcona to L'Aquila, building the Church of S.Massimo ans S.George (the future Cathedral).

During the struggle between the Papacy and the new Hohenstaufen King, Manfred, the city paid dearly for having sited with the church: in fact L'Aquila was razed to the ground and then abandoned for 7 years until 1266, when Charles I of Anjou, having taken possession of the kingdom of Sicily, called for the reconstruction of the town. Besides, in 1272, work on the city walls was commenced and the city was divided in four quarters (quarti). On the 29th of August 1294 L’Aquila saw the accession to the papal throne of the hermit Pietro da Morrone, who was coroneted Pope with the name of Celestino V in the Basilica of S. Maria di Collemaggio, in the presence of Charles II of Anjou, the cardinals and the jubilant congregation. On the same day he proclaimed the “Grande Perdonanza”, a day of reconciliation, during which a plenary indulgence with the total absolution was accorded.

In the 14th century, L'Aquila became very quickly the second most important city in the Kingdom of Naples, thanks to the flourishing of the industry of wool and silk, the laces production and the success of the culture and commerce of saffron. So the city prospered by commercial and cultural exchange with the most influential cities in Italy and abroad.

In 1349 L’Aquila was destroyed by a violent earthquake, after which it was rebuilt. In the 15th century it was permitted to mint coins, the University was established and a printing house was opened in 1482 by A. di Rotwill, a pupil of Gutenberg.

The enthusiasm of city life began to weaken and the city spirit of independence was finally crushed during the struggle between the French and the Spanish for the throne of Naples. The Spanish Charles V ordered Philip of Orange to besiege and destroy L'Aquila to punish her having favoured Francis II; thus in 1532, the Castle was erected by Don Pedro of Toledo "ad reprimendam audaciam Aquilanorum".
In 1647 the city rebelled again against the Spaniards and was consequently punished with strict economic and social sanctions, which caused a slow decay. The situation was worsened further by the earthquakes in 1646 and 1703, which shattered the entire city. L’Aquila was rebuilt but it didn’t regain the ancient majesty.
In 1738 the peace treaty of Vienna put an end to the Spanish dominance, but only few years later, in 1799, L’Aquila rose up again against the French occupation and even this time it paid dearly with violent sacks.
At the end of 19th century L'Aquila participated actively in the revolutionary movements for a United Italy and in 1860, after an important economic recovery, it became the capital of the Region.

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