Abruzzo is located in the centre of Italy, is divided into four provinces and it has both: beautiful mountains and a very long coastline. The province of L'Aquila is totally characterized by mountains; in the Chieti area hills prevail, while in Pescara and Teramo the areas covered by mountains are more or less the same as those covered by hills. Chieti, Pescara and Teramo has also a beautiful coastline 129 km long.
Abruzzo is also known as the region of the parks. More than 30% of its territory is protected as natural reserve. This Region owns three national parks:Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso - Laga, Parco Nazionale della Majella – Morrone; and one regional park called Sirente –Velino. Abruzzo can be considered a mosaic made by cultivated fields and woods, hedges and vineyards, olive groves and gardens. Abruzzo is the place for those who want to have a different holiday in the beauty of nature to discover the life in the old villages, to know the cultural traditions and to taste the typical gastronomy living in traditional restructured houses placed in the old villages of this fascinating Region, to spend holiday on the beach. Nature represents one of the major attractions of Abruzzo: the great number of mountains and hills originate an environment rich in rivers, streams and, within the mountain areas, rich in woods of long-trunked trees. Mountains on West and sea on East delimit the hilly area, that seems suspended through them. Calm and relaxing sandy beaches in the upper part of Abruzzo, changes in the southest part in rocks, little gulf and inlets. On the coast you can see long wharves in wood which appear for metres on the sea: they are called “trabocchi” and are used for fishing.
CAN'T BE MISSED Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village located in the mountains of Abruzzo at 1250 mt above the sea level, inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park.
Scanno is a little amazing village located between the sides of Mountains Marsicani and Mount Genzana. Scanno is well known for its historic center and its homonym lake (922 mt above the sea level) which, if observed from certain points, get the shape of the heart.
The most popular city for nightlife is Pescara. Straight on the beach, in the middle south part of Abruzzo, offers many events all year long. During the summer there is much more to do on the beach with numerous bars and clubs opened along the seaside (lungomare). During the winter it’s a good fun walk around the Corso Manthonè neighbourood and find out good restaurants and bars. Clubs are waiting for you later! Another very good option for the lovers of the club is the north part of the Region, in the border with marche. The place is called Alba Adriatica and it is known specially for clubs. Anyway, summer season is always more crowded than winter time.
The roughness of the mountain ranges surrounding Abruzzo, has always done this land to maintain an independent life style and cusine. The durum wheat pasta and the soup called “The Virtues” are very characteristic of this Region. Because of its particularly favorable climatic conditions for the grapes cultivation and thanks also to its territory composed both from hilly and flat zones Abruzzo produces two kinds of great wines: the Montepulciano and the Trebbiano of Abruzzo. The first one is a red produced by the homonym vine and it can be considered the symbol of the region, the second it is a dry white with a pale yellow color achieved from the wine Trebbiano. A good idea would be to stop for few hours in a winery and taste the flavour of the local wines. Emanuele, the owner of a small, warm winery located in Vasto, will show you the process to get Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Pecorino IGT white wine.
