Italy Review
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Ischia Review
    • Sorrento Review
  • Things to see in Italy
    • Cities of Italy >
      • Major Cities of Italy >
        • Rome >
          • Things to see in Rome
        • Venice >
          • Things to see in Venice
        • Florence >
          • Things to see in Florence
        • Milan >
          • Things to see in Milan
        • Naples >
          • Things to see in Naples
        • Turin >
          • Things to see in Turin
        • Verona >
          • Things to see in Verona
        • Genoa
        • Bologna
        • Palermo
      • Beautiful Italian Cities >
        • Pisa >
          • Things to see in Pisa
        • Siena
        • Ravenna
        • Lecce
        • Mantova
        • Syracuse
        • Perugia
        • Pavia
        • Lucca
    • Towns and Villages of Italy >
      • Seaside Towns of Italy >
        • Sestri Levante
        • Vieste
        • Positano
        • Tropea
        • Sorrento
        • Cefalu
        • Amalfi
        • Polignano a Mare
      • Lakeside Towns of Italy >
        • Varenna
        • Orta San Giulio
        • Bellagio
        • Sirmione
        • Molveno
        • Trevignano Romano
        • Desenzano del Garda
      • Scenic Towns of Italy >
        • Alberobello
        • Bassano del Grappa
        • Sarzana
        • Susa
        • Brisighella
        • Grottammare
      • Hilltop Villages of Italy >
        • Castelluccio
        • Civita di Bagnoregio
        • Roccascalegna
        • Apricale
        • Muro Lucano
      • Historic Towns of Italy >
        • Matera
        • Albenga
        • Chioggia
        • Assisi
      • Hill Towns of Italy >
        • San Gimignano
        • Taormina
        • Ravello
      • Picturesque Villages of Italy >
        • Finalborgo
        • Rasiglia
      • Mountain Towns of Italy >
        • Bressanone
      • Vineyard Towns of Italy >
        • Barolo
      • Fishing Villages of Italy
      • Mural Towns of Italy
      • Spa Towns of Italy
      • Ghost Towns of Italy
      • I Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia
      • Orange Flag Towns of Italy
    • Italian Islands >
      • Phlegraean Islands >
        • Ischia
        • Procida
        • Nisida
        • Vivara
      • Capri
      • Tuscan Archipelago >
        • Elba >
          • Things to see in Elba >
            • Must See Elba
            • Best Beaches of Elba
          • Elba Travel >
            • How to get to Elba
            • Elba Ferry Tickets and Timetables
            • Buses in Elba
        • Giglio
        • Pianosa
        • Capraia (Tuscany)
        • Giannutri
      • Sicilian Islands >
        • Aeolian Islands >
          • Lipari
          • Salina
          • Panarea
          • Vulcano
          • Stromboli
          • Filicudi
          • Alicudi
        • Aegadian Islands >
          • Favignana
          • Levanzo
          • Marettimo
        • Pelagie Islands >
          • Lampedusa
          • Linosa
          • Lampione
        • Pantelleria
        • Ustica
      • Sardinian Islands >
        • La Maddalena Archipelago >
          • La Maddalena Island
          • Caprera
          • Spargi
          • Santa Maria
          • Santo Stefano (Maddalena)
          • Razzoli
          • Budelli
        • Sant'Antioco
        • Asinara
        • Tavolara
        • San Pietro Island
      • Pontine Islands >
        • Ponza >
          • Things to see in Ponza >
            • Beaches of Ponza
            • Ponza Port
            • Landmarks of Ponza
            • Ponza Travel >
              • How to get to Ponza
              • Ponza Ferry Tickets and Timetables
              • Buses in Ponza
        • Ventotene
        • Palmarola
        • Santo Stefano (Pontine)
        • Zannone
        • Gavi Island
      • Tremiti Islands >
        • San Domino
        • San Nicola
        • Cretaccio
        • Tremiti Islands Ferry Timetables
      • Venetian Lagoon Islands >
        • Pellestrina
      • Borromean Islands
      • Lake Trasimeno Islands
      • Isola San Giulio
      • Monte Isola
      • Palmaria
    • Lakes of Italy >
      • Lake Garda
      • Lake Como
      • Lake Maggiore
      • Lake Trasimeno
      • Lake Bracciano
      • Lake Orta
      • Lake Tenno
    • Landmarks of Italy >
      • Man-Made Landmarks of Italy >
        • Castles of Italy
        • Squares of Italy
        • Roman Monuments in Italy
        • Towers of Italy
        • Bridges of Italy
        • Modern Landmarks of Italy
        • Monuments of Magna Graecia
      • Natural Landmarks of Italy >
        • Rivers of Italy >
          • River Po
          • River Adige
          • River Tiber
        • Mountains of Italy
        • Mountain Ranges of Italy >
          • The Italian Alps
          • The Apennines
          • The Dolomites
    • Religious Buildings of Italy >
      • Cathedrals of Italy
      • Basilicas of Italy
      • Abbeys & Monasteries of Italy
      • Baptisteries of Italy
      • Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
      • Religious Sanctuaries of Italy
      • Chapels of Italy
    • Cultural Institutions of Italy >
      • Archaeological Sites of Italy
      • Gardens of Italy
      • Museums of Italy
      • Palaces of Italy
      • Art Galleries of Italy
      • Theatres of Italy
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy
    • Italian Beaches >
      • Best Beaches in Italy
      • Beach Resorts of Italy
    • Parks of Italy >
      • National Parks of Italy
      • Nature Reserves of Italy
      • Regional Parks of Italy
      • Italian City Parks
    • Ski Resorts of Italy
    • Italian Coastal Areas
    • Mountain and Valley Regions of Italy
    • Wine Regions of Italy
  • Travel
    • Airports of Italy
    • Italian Ferry Ports
  • Italy Hotels
  • Italy Review Blog
  • Italy
    • Regions of Italy >
      • Northern Italy >
        • Lombardy >
          • Things to see in Lombardy
        • Emilia Romagna >
          • Things to see in Emilia Romagna
        • Piedmont >
          • Things to see in Piedmont
        • Veneto >
          • Things to see in Veneto
        • Liguria >
          • Things to see in Liguria
        • Friuli Venezia Giulia >
          • Things to see in Friuli Venezia Giulia
        • Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol >
          • Things to see in Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol
        • Valle d'Aosta >
          • Things to see in Valle d'Aosta
      • Central Italy >
        • Tuscany >
          • Things to see in Tuscany
        • Lazio >
          • Things to see in Lazio
        • Marche >
          • Things to see in Marche
        • Abruzzo >
          • Things to see in Abruzzo
        • Umbria >
          • Things to see in Umbria
        • Molise >
          • Things to see in Molise
      • Southern Italy >
        • Puglia >
          • Things to see in Puglia
        • Campania >
          • Things to see in Campania
        • Calabria >
          • Things to see in Calabria
        • Basilicata >
          • Things to see in Basilicata
      • Island Regions >
        • Sicily >
          • Things to see in Sicily
        • Sardinia >
          • Things to see in Sardinia
    • Provinces of Italy

Abruzzo

Abruzzo​


​Situated between a stretch of the Adriatic coast to the east and the Apennines to the west, Abruzzo is a region of diverse landscapes from rugged mountain plateaus to sunny seaside towns. With a population of under 1.5 million, Abruzzo is one of the least populous regions of Italy. ​
​
It shares borders with three other Italian regions: Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and Molise to the south. Until 1963, Abruzzo and Molise were joined together as one region known as the Abruzzi.
Abruzzo's capital city is L'Aquila which suffered a devastating earthquake in 2009, but work on rebuilding the city to its former glories continues apace. L'Aquila is also the name of one of the four provinces of Abruzzo, with the other three taking the name of the region's other major cities: Pescara, Teramo and Chieti. 

​Pescara is an important travel hub of Abruzzo: from here you can take a ferry across the Adriatic to Croatia, while Pescara Abruzzo International Airport is the region's only airport. 

​During the summer, it's Abruzzo's coastline that attracts most visitors; a series of seaside towns and beach resorts are spaced out at regular intervals with the highlights including the town of Vasto and its beach equivalent, Marina di Vasto. The towns of Giulianova and Ortona offer a mixture of history and coastline, while the resorts of Silvi Marina and Marina di San Vito have long stretches of sandy beach.

However, what really sets Abruzzo apart from other Italian regions is its rugged hinterland. Three of Italy's national parks are in Abruzzo, including the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, Majella National Park and the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park which it shares with those two neighbouring regions. The national parks along with smaller regional parks such as Sirente Velino offer a range of opportunities from skiing in the winter to all-year-round activity holidays. Abruzzo's top ski resorts include the towns of Roccaraso and nearby Rivisondoli as well as Assergi which is close to L'Aquila. 

Some of the most spectacular scenery in the region can be found at Campo Imperatore, 30 kilometres east of L'Aquila and part of the Gran Sasso area. The deserted mountain plateau offers peace and quiet as well as a series of fascinating diversions close by. If you have a car, this is one of the best places in Italy to drive and it's just a short distance to one of the most iconic locations in Abruzzo: Rocca Calascio. The tiny village of Calascio sits at the bottom of a steep hill, at the top of which you'll find the ruins of a medieval fortress. At some 1,460 metres above sea level, this is the highest point of the Apennines and offers unparalleled panoramas across the region. 

​The vast territories of Abruzzo conceal fascinating histories; for years it was faster/safer to travel to the Italian capital of Rome by sea as the Apennine passes were so treacherous before roads were built. This meant the likes of Abruzzo and Molise were somewhat cut off from the modern world and there are still many places within the region that make you feel as though you're stepping back in time. The town of Roccascalegna is one such place; its own hilltop fortress must have seemed impregnable in years past and now in modern times makes for a fascinating day out. 

​One of the most historic and beautiful towns in Abruzzo is Sulmona which also acts as a great base from which to explore the nearby Majella National Park. Sulmona sits at the northern tip of a roughly circular driving route; 60 kilometres south brings you to the lakeside town of Barrea with some breathtaking scenery along the way at towns such as Anversa degli Abruzzi, Opi and Scanno. 

The places mentioned above merely scratch the surface of things to see in Abruzzo but you'll find lots of other ideas throughout the pages of this website, particularly in the things to see in Abruzzo section a little further down the page. 

​Category: Regions of Italy

Regional capital: L'Aquila

Regional population: 1,311,580

Size: 10,763 km²

Provinces: 4

Highlights: ​Gran Sasso, Rocca Calascio, Campo Imperatore


L'Aquila  Province

Picture
Lake Scanno, l'Aquila Province

Chieti  Province

Picture
Roccascalegna, Chieti Province

Pescara  Province

Picture
Loreto Aprutino, Pescara Province

Teramo  Province

Picture
Silvi Paese, Teramo Province

Things  to  see  in  Abruzzo

Picture
Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo



Picture
Picture

​All photos and images on the site that are marked with the © copyright symbol or with the Italy Review series logos are the property of Italy Review and must not be used elsewhere without prior permission. All written content on the website is also the property of Italy Review and its use is strictly limited to this website alone. 
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Ischia Review
    • Sorrento Review
  • Things to see in Italy
    • Cities of Italy >
      • Major Cities of Italy >
        • Rome >
          • Things to see in Rome
        • Venice >
          • Things to see in Venice
        • Florence >
          • Things to see in Florence
        • Milan >
          • Things to see in Milan
        • Naples >
          • Things to see in Naples
        • Turin >
          • Things to see in Turin
        • Verona >
          • Things to see in Verona
        • Genoa
        • Bologna
        • Palermo
      • Beautiful Italian Cities >
        • Pisa >
          • Things to see in Pisa
        • Siena
        • Ravenna
        • Lecce
        • Mantova
        • Syracuse
        • Perugia
        • Pavia
        • Lucca
    • Towns and Villages of Italy >
      • Seaside Towns of Italy >
        • Sestri Levante
        • Vieste
        • Positano
        • Tropea
        • Sorrento
        • Cefalu
        • Amalfi
        • Polignano a Mare
      • Lakeside Towns of Italy >
        • Varenna
        • Orta San Giulio
        • Bellagio
        • Sirmione
        • Molveno
        • Trevignano Romano
        • Desenzano del Garda
      • Scenic Towns of Italy >
        • Alberobello
        • Bassano del Grappa
        • Sarzana
        • Susa
        • Brisighella
        • Grottammare
      • Hilltop Villages of Italy >
        • Castelluccio
        • Civita di Bagnoregio
        • Roccascalegna
        • Apricale
        • Muro Lucano
      • Historic Towns of Italy >
        • Matera
        • Albenga
        • Chioggia
        • Assisi
      • Hill Towns of Italy >
        • San Gimignano
        • Taormina
        • Ravello
      • Picturesque Villages of Italy >
        • Finalborgo
        • Rasiglia
      • Mountain Towns of Italy >
        • Bressanone
      • Vineyard Towns of Italy >
        • Barolo
      • Fishing Villages of Italy
      • Mural Towns of Italy
      • Spa Towns of Italy
      • Ghost Towns of Italy
      • I Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia
      • Orange Flag Towns of Italy
    • Italian Islands >
      • Phlegraean Islands >
        • Ischia
        • Procida
        • Nisida
        • Vivara
      • Capri
      • Tuscan Archipelago >
        • Elba >
          • Things to see in Elba >
            • Must See Elba
            • Best Beaches of Elba
          • Elba Travel >
            • How to get to Elba
            • Elba Ferry Tickets and Timetables
            • Buses in Elba
        • Giglio
        • Pianosa
        • Capraia (Tuscany)
        • Giannutri
      • Sicilian Islands >
        • Aeolian Islands >
          • Lipari
          • Salina
          • Panarea
          • Vulcano
          • Stromboli
          • Filicudi
          • Alicudi
        • Aegadian Islands >
          • Favignana
          • Levanzo
          • Marettimo
        • Pelagie Islands >
          • Lampedusa
          • Linosa
          • Lampione
        • Pantelleria
        • Ustica
      • Sardinian Islands >
        • La Maddalena Archipelago >
          • La Maddalena Island
          • Caprera
          • Spargi
          • Santa Maria
          • Santo Stefano (Maddalena)
          • Razzoli
          • Budelli
        • Sant'Antioco
        • Asinara
        • Tavolara
        • San Pietro Island
      • Pontine Islands >
        • Ponza >
          • Things to see in Ponza >
            • Beaches of Ponza
            • Ponza Port
            • Landmarks of Ponza
            • Ponza Travel >
              • How to get to Ponza
              • Ponza Ferry Tickets and Timetables
              • Buses in Ponza
        • Ventotene
        • Palmarola
        • Santo Stefano (Pontine)
        • Zannone
        • Gavi Island
      • Tremiti Islands >
        • San Domino
        • San Nicola
        • Cretaccio
        • Tremiti Islands Ferry Timetables
      • Venetian Lagoon Islands >
        • Pellestrina
      • Borromean Islands
      • Lake Trasimeno Islands
      • Isola San Giulio
      • Monte Isola
      • Palmaria
    • Lakes of Italy >
      • Lake Garda
      • Lake Como
      • Lake Maggiore
      • Lake Trasimeno
      • Lake Bracciano
      • Lake Orta
      • Lake Tenno
    • Landmarks of Italy >
      • Man-Made Landmarks of Italy >
        • Castles of Italy
        • Squares of Italy
        • Roman Monuments in Italy
        • Towers of Italy
        • Bridges of Italy
        • Modern Landmarks of Italy
        • Monuments of Magna Graecia
      • Natural Landmarks of Italy >
        • Rivers of Italy >
          • River Po
          • River Adige
          • River Tiber
        • Mountains of Italy
        • Mountain Ranges of Italy >
          • The Italian Alps
          • The Apennines
          • The Dolomites
    • Religious Buildings of Italy >
      • Cathedrals of Italy
      • Basilicas of Italy
      • Abbeys & Monasteries of Italy
      • Baptisteries of Italy
      • Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
      • Religious Sanctuaries of Italy
      • Chapels of Italy
    • Cultural Institutions of Italy >
      • Archaeological Sites of Italy
      • Gardens of Italy
      • Museums of Italy
      • Palaces of Italy
      • Art Galleries of Italy
      • Theatres of Italy
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy
    • Italian Beaches >
      • Best Beaches in Italy
      • Beach Resorts of Italy
    • Parks of Italy >
      • National Parks of Italy
      • Nature Reserves of Italy
      • Regional Parks of Italy
      • Italian City Parks
    • Ski Resorts of Italy
    • Italian Coastal Areas
    • Mountain and Valley Regions of Italy
    • Wine Regions of Italy
  • Travel
    • Airports of Italy
    • Italian Ferry Ports
  • Italy Hotels
  • Italy Review Blog
  • Italy
    • Regions of Italy >
      • Northern Italy >
        • Lombardy >
          • Things to see in Lombardy
        • Emilia Romagna >
          • Things to see in Emilia Romagna
        • Piedmont >
          • Things to see in Piedmont
        • Veneto >
          • Things to see in Veneto
        • Liguria >
          • Things to see in Liguria
        • Friuli Venezia Giulia >
          • Things to see in Friuli Venezia Giulia
        • Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol >
          • Things to see in Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol
        • Valle d'Aosta >
          • Things to see in Valle d'Aosta
      • Central Italy >
        • Tuscany >
          • Things to see in Tuscany
        • Lazio >
          • Things to see in Lazio
        • Marche >
          • Things to see in Marche
        • Abruzzo >
          • Things to see in Abruzzo
        • Umbria >
          • Things to see in Umbria
        • Molise >
          • Things to see in Molise
      • Southern Italy >
        • Puglia >
          • Things to see in Puglia
        • Campania >
          • Things to see in Campania
        • Calabria >
          • Things to see in Calabria
        • Basilicata >
          • Things to see in Basilicata
      • Island Regions >
        • Sicily >
          • Things to see in Sicily
        • Sardinia >
          • Things to see in Sardinia
    • Provinces of Italy