5 Best Things To Do In Abruzzo, Italy
7 min read
Table of Contents
Abruzzo, Italy region is one of the “un-explored” destinations in Italy. Let me share with you the best things to do in Abruzzo, Italy on your next visit to Italy. I went to Abruzzo to experience their culture and natural beauty.
There are various tourist attractions in Abruzzo for the active and adventurous as well as for the history and nature enthusiasts. The region has a lot to offer to visitors including their food, wine, natural reserves, historical medieval castles and churches, seaside and mountain landscapes.
Where is Abruzzo, Italy located?
Abruzzo region is located at the east of Rome, along the Adriatic coastline and Apennine Mountain range. The capital of the Abruzzo region is Pescara. The Abruzzo region has a total area of 10, 763 square kilometres.
Read more: The 7 Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy
Here are the best things to do in Abruzzo, Italy
Try Delectable Food and Wine
No one else has a culinary passion like the Italians. They really know how to pull off delicious cuisine and wholesome goodness too!
On my recent visit to Abruzzo (for the Annual Mediterranean Tourism Event organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Pescara), I tried some of the most delicious Mediterranean food in the region on my first evening in Pescara.
Abruzzo is also the home of the world’s famous pasta brands like Delverde and De Cecco. Located at the foot of Majella at Fara San Martino in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo.
I had the opportunity to see how Delverde makes its world-class pasta. It was my first time visiting a pasta factory! It was great to have learned the delicate and meticulous process that goes into making pasta.
Here are some of Delverde’s world-class pasta: DELVERDE Lasagne Ondine Spinach, Delverde Spaghetti Nest Long Pasta, Delverde Organic Whole-Wheat Tagliatelle Nest Long Pasta, and Delverde Whole Wheat Organic Penne Rigate Pasta.
Another world-class pasta brand based in the town of Moscufo, Abruzzo is the artisan pasta maker Rustichella d’ Abruzzo.
Here are some of the world-class pasta made by Rustichella D’ Abruzzo: Rustichella Bucatini Pasta, Rustichella d’Abruzzo Fettuccine Pasta, Rustichella Sugo Alla Napoletana Pasta Sauce,Rustichella Conchiglioni Pasta and Rustichella d’Abruzzo Fusilli Rustichella.
From Pescara, along the coastline of the Adriatic sea, is the home of Abruzzo’s traditional trabocchi.
Trabocchi or Trabocco is the traditional fishing huts in Abruzzo. These Trabocco were the fishing machines of Abruzzese since the 15th or 16th century.
This is one of the highlights of things to do in Pescara and taste the flavours of the sea. On my visit to Pescara, I had a sumptuous meal at Valle Grotte one of the well-known Trabocco in the region.
Read More: The List of the Best Cheeses in the World
Since Abruzzo has vast meadows there are many sheep and lamb is one of the favourite meats in the region. Abruzzo is also known for its strong sheep cheese. Arrosticini is the local favourite snack. It is made from lamb meat on a skewer and char-grilled.
And of course, wine… Abruzzo is known for the famous Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo wine, one of the main exports of the region. I personally love the taste of the Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo wine and Trebbiano D’ Abruzzo wine that are the locally produced wine of the region.
Abruzzo is the proud home of the Golden Triangle of the Olive oil industry in Italy. The Abruzzo’s towns that comprise the golden triangle are Moscufo, Loreto Aprutino and Pianella, the City of Oil. The Olive oil produced in this region has earned the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO-DOP) title of excellence in their products in accordance with EU laws.
On my visit to Pianella, I had the opportunity to visit the old Olive oil mill. I was welcomed by the key people of Pianella who cheerfully explained to us the heritage and process of how they traditionally make their DOP olive oil.
Some of the famous producers of olive oil from the Abruzzo region are De Julius Timando and Azienda Scorrano.
Pristine Nature Reserves and endless landscapes
Abruzzo is known as the “Greenest Region in Europe” for a very good reason.
The region is the home of three national parks ( Abruzzo National Park, Gran Sasso-Laga Mountains and Majella National Park and the Sirente-Velino Regional Park) and as well as 30 Nature reserves and oases. 30% of Abruzzo’s region is under natural protection and preservation.
The vast mountainous landscape of Abruzzo is the gateway to the Apennine mountains where the Gran Sasso d’ Italia is located, the highest mountain in the Apennine mountain region. With Abruzzo’s lush region a myriad of flora and fauna can be found in the national parks and nature reserves. There are a few endemic florae that can only be found in Abruzzo like Majella’s bindweed and the lady’s slipper orchids.
As for the fauna, Abruzzo is the home of the Abruzzo chamois, the Apennine wolf and the Marsica brown bear. The national parks and nature reserves are open to the public, please be reminded to be responsible tourists when you visit these places as part of the sustainable tourism efforts of the region.
During wintertime, skiing is one of the best things to do in Abruzzo.
Seaside experience
Perched at the coast of the Adriatic sea, Abruzzo also offers a great seaside destination for those holidaymakers who love the sea. On my visit to Abruzzo, I stayed in the region’s capital, Pescara. Pescara is a seaside city that is a thriving holiday destination with good road access to and from Rome, a train station and an airport.
The city has an inviting and safe vibe that will make you feel at ease. Just a stone throw away from Best Western Hotel Pescara is the city’s esplanade where you can rent a sun lounger or enjoy other beach activities under the sun.
If you are into sailing, Pescara also has a good size marina where you can moor your sailboat to enjoy the city. Of course, you should not miss the dining experience in a Trabocco. It’s one of the highlights of your visit to Abruzzo.
Medieval castles and churches
Abruzzo’s rich history can be seen through the countless castles and fortifications that was built as a line of defence from the medieval invaders and plunderers.
Each Abruzzese town has a castle that overlooks the valleys in all directions. It’s like walking back in time as you walk the cobbled streets and alleys in this Italian region. I went to see the beautiful medieval castle of Roccascalegna.
Countless numbers of medieval churches can also be found in each town of Abruzzo. With the widespread of Christianity religion in Italy, it is a stronghold where the whole community congregates weekly and especially during a patron’s feast day. The churches in the region are baroque, Romanesque and rococo.
Beautiful villages in Abruzzo
Abruzzo is comprised of four main regions namely L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara and Teramo. Since Abruzzo is considered the last frontier of Italy, most of the villages in this region still have authentic medieval towns.
People from different parts of the world pick Abruzzo as the location to purchase their holiday or retirement home. Clearly, Abruzzo is one of the best places to live in Italy. You get the best of everything in Abruzzo due to its location and rich natural resources.
On my visit to the region, I visited some of the most beautiful villages in Abruzzo like Roccascalegna, Spoltore and Loreto Aprutino.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should include Abruzzo in your itinerary to Italy. The region has plenty to offer for everyone who loves to be with nature and enjoy its beauty. Moreover, it has amazing gastronomical treats and wine and welcoming people. You can also see the other awesome souvenirs from Italy.
Have you been to Abruzzo? If you would require a visa to visit Italy you may want to read my Schengen visa guide.
Special thanks to the Chamber of Commerce of Pescara for inviting me to join the Arte and Gusto trip to experience the beauty of the Abruzzo region.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryazan Tristram
Travel Writer & Photographer
Ryazan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Hotel Management. She also has more than 10 years of work experience gained from working in the hotel and travel sectors in Asia and Europe. Her work has been featured and published on Huffington Post, Reader’s Digest, Discovery Channel, World Travel Guide, MSN, CNBC, GMA, Lonely Planet and many more. She is currently living in the UK as a dual citizen (British – Filipina). Join her on travelling around the globe with a mission to share the best of the world.
