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Abruzzo is located in central Italy and stretches from the heart of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, on a mainly mountainous and wild land.
In the mountains, tourist resorts and well-equipped facilities for skiing and winter sports rise among unpolluted peaks and rocky walls, like Pescasseroli, Rivisondoli and Roccaraso.
The natural landscape with the high and steep peaks of the Gran Sasso, the Laga Mountains and Mount Majella, slopes down to a wide range of hills, until it finally reaches the Adriatic coast.
The route that spans from the Gran Sasso down to the sea crosses territories that are rich in history, traditions and art, that never cease to surprise visitors.
Narrow valleys and memorable natural paths thrust into the mountains and hills , just like the amazing and fascinating Aterno valley, filled with old boroughs.
There are many natural reserves, like the National Parks of Abruzzo, the Park of Gran Sasso and the Laga Mountains, or that of Mount Majella, which ensure protection to the typical vegetable and animal species of the area, like the golden eagle, the wolf and the Marsican brown bear.
The Adriatic coast is characterized by long and sandy beaches to the north and pebbly beaches to the south. Also, the small villages of the hinterland, as well as the monasteries and castles of the region, are very charming and are part of many routes for tourists in the greenest region in Italy.
The provinces of the region are: L’Aquila (regional capital), Pescara, Teramo and Chieti.
The most artistically important town in the region is L’Aquila, located on the mountainside of the Gran Sasso, characterized by a priceless artistic heritage: from the magnificent Basilica di San Bernardino to the sixteenth-century castle, from the Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio to the Fontana delle 99 Cannelle (99 spout fountain), embellished with a stone mask for every spout.
This city, famous for “the Celestine Pardon” offers endless routes to the discovery of history, art and faith.
Unfortunately, the earthquake of April 6th 2009 badly hit the town and the surrounding area, causing considerable damage to its precious artistic treasures. The city of Pescara, an important tourist resort that preserves the memory of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, stands out on the Adriatic side with its long and sandy beaches.
Among the several and typical tourist seaside resorts of the region are Tortoreto, Giulianova, Silvi Marina, Roseto and, further south, Ortona, Vasto and San Salvo.
Chieti, perched on a hill near the coast, has a wonderful eleventh-century cathedral; the National Archaeological Museum is also very interesting and is rich in prehistoric finds and vestiges of Greek and Roman civilization.
Another important town is Teramo, with its medieval cathedral and the remains of the Roman theatre and amphitheatre.
The countless old villages are the repositories of a country life that still keeps its traditions alive thanks to local folklore and handicraft.
One of the most picturesque towns is Scanno, located near an enchanting lake in the Sangro Valley, with its narrow alleys, baroque gateways and old buildings. Sulmona, the hometown of poet Ovidio, is rich in history and traditions, and treasures precious artistic vestiges as well as the famous Hermitage of Pope Celestine V.
Thanks to the variegated landscape, Abruzzo offers different types of holidays, all exciting and surprising.
The highest peaks of the Apennines and the renowned tourist resorts of Roccaraso, Rivisondoli, Pescasseroli and Campo Imperatore, welcome ski, snowboard and snow rafting enthusiasts with modern facilities and a great number of slopes, while cross-country tracks enter the amazing scenery of the National Park of Abruzzo, Latium and Molise.
The region offers also the possibility to practise many sports in contact with nature: walks and excursions on foot, mountain bike or trekking routes in protected areas or in particularly valuable natural sites, like the splendid Sagittario Gorge, Zompo lo Schioppo falls, or the lakes Penne and Serranello, where it is possible to spot rare bird species.
From Gran Sasso to Sirente, the environment of the mountains is particularly suited for mountaineering and climbing.
Those who love horse-riding have countless possibilities for excursions, while it is possible to ride on a trail for hundreds of kilometers amid marvelous natural surroundings in the National Park of Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains. Along the coast, you can practice all sea sports, like sailing, canoeing, fishing, windsurfing, thanks to well-equipped beaches and modern facilities. There is also room for cycling trails in pinewoods and beech groves; after that, you can spend great nights of entertainment moving between the many clubs, pubs and restaurants in the sea resorts.
A great number of religious itineraries lead to places of worship in unpolluted environments, including the famous Hermitage of Celestine V, a monastery embedded in a rocky wall, or the Romanesque and Gothic church of Santa Maria di Propezzano in the Vomano Valley.
Those who enjoy food can drive from the Adriatic coast up to Peligna Valley through olive groves and vineyards and reach the hinterland, where they can visit farms and taste wines, oil and delicious local products.
Lastly, do not miss the folklore and religious festivals and events : from the famous Perdonanza Festival in L’Aquila to the Serpari di San Domenico fair in Cocullo, from the Living Nativity scenes in Rivisondoli to the many fairs in the small towns of the region.
Abruzzo has a rich culinary tradition, with various traditions attached to each province.
The maccheroni alla chitarra are very renowned (home-made pasta cut on a machine with thin steel blades); scrippelle are thin strips of pasta to eat with soup, typical in Teramo; most dishes on the coast, are based on fish.
As for the main courses, the typical recipe of Chieti is scapece, pickled fried fish; wherever you go you find plenty of lamb, kid, mutton, but also loin of pork and ventricina, typical salami produced locally.
A typical meal in Abruzzo is accompanied by a selection of the best wines of the region: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Sangiovese and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo.
Among the desserts, often made with almonds, we highlight nougats, confetti (the typical sugared almonds, a specialty of Sulmona), cicerchiata, small balls of fried dough covered in honey, and mostaccioli.
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