Food in Abruzzo |
Wine in Abruzzo
Tourism in Abruzzo
photos © Alfredo Scamponi e Marco Branchi
Abruzzo holds a record: 30 per cent of its territory is protected by environmental laws.
No other region in Europe can boast as much. Not without good reason is it known as "the region of parks", the ideal target for a naturalistic vacation.
There are three national parks, one regional park and many protected sites and nature reserves: in a region like this, it seems natural that the regional capital is called L'Aquila ('The Eagle').
Dominated by an imposing sixteenth-century castle (which houses the National
Museum of Abruzzo), L'Aquila has splendid civic and religious monuments
from the medieval and renaissance eras. On the coast of Abruzzo (which vaunts
popular bathing areas) one of the most popular location is Pescara,
birthplace of Gabriele D'Annunzio.
The house where he was born is now a small and evocative museum. At Chieti there is an important National Archaeological Museum, well-known for the modernity and effectiveness of its exhibitions, for which it won several prizes.
The "show piece" of the museum is the
Warrior of Capestrano, a funerary statue of the sixth century B.C., found
in 1934
in the province of L'Aquila. At Teramo the stunning
fifteenth-century Antepedium inside the cathedral, made by Nicola da Guardiagrele, the great
goldsmith of Abruzzi, should not be missed.
Abruzzo is also surprisingly rich in architectural and artistic treasures, almost as much as it is full of natural treasures and folk traditions, such as the "festival of the serpents" in Cocullo, which brings thousands of people to this tiny village on the first Sunday of May.
We shall
risk a slogan for this small and charming region of the southern
Adriatic: "Pay a visit, before it becomes trendy".
Ah yes, because it is not difficult to predict the mass discovery of this land where everything still has the "flavor" of old times: from the splendid landscapes to the folk traditions, from the gastronomic attractions (fabulous cheeses, among the many other typical products) to the community life, from the hospitality of the inhabitants to the unspoiled sea, from the craftsmanship (the bells of Agnone are famous) to the quiet life in the villages of the interior. It is a genuine pleasure to visit
Festivals in Abruzzo |
Abruzzo travel guides
Official Tourist Boards - IAT dell'Abruzzo - Useful links
Campings and tourist villages
© 1997-2010 Enrico Massetti
TangoItalia - Food, Wine, Travel, and... tango in Italy.
Visit Abruzzo:
National Park
Old villages
Chieti Good Friday
L'Aquila
Sheep farming
Pescara
Castelli majolica
Rocca Calascio
Campings
Festivals
The seacost:
- north coast
- central coast
- south coast
coast-mountain
History:
- Pre-Roman
- Roman Age
- Middle Ages
- Renaissance
- Modern age