 Over the centuries the Fucino plain was resubmerged, until it was drained in the mid-nineteenth century by Alessandro Torlonia, 2nd Prince di Civitella-Cesi.Families from Cerchio then farmed the rich soils of the lake bed, working as tenant farmers, sharecroppers and day-laborers under the Torlonia Administration.The town was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1915.