Top 10 reasons for a visit to Abruzzo
Abruzzo General
Abruzzo is enclosed between the Apenines and the Adriatic coast. Thanks to this isolated location, the region offers many undiscovered and authentic towns and sights, the traditional cuisine is well preserved and the people are friendly and hospitable. Abruzzo has beautiful beach beaches, beautiful hills with olive trees and vineyards, and high mountains where you can ski in winter.
This region is home to Abruzzo Casa…. Your Dutch real estate agent in Abruzzo!
CNN Travel has now also discovered Abruzzo:
“Abruzzo has it all”, “Abruzzo takes you by surpise”, “Abruzzo the greenest region of Europe”, “Italy’s next hot destination”, “Abruzzo Upcoming Region”, “It represents what most people expect from an Italian vacation experience but simply cannot find in the more well-known destinations. ”
The Top 10 Reasons to Visit Abruzzo are:
5. Beautiful lakes and natural springs
6. Spectacular ski and hiking routes
10. Trabocchi coast
The Abruzzo region in central Italy has always attracted visitors thanks to the snow-sure winter season and the beautiful slopes. The region is on the verge of an increase in international tourism. In any case, the number of tourists in Italy is increasing and visitors are increasingly looking for lesser known and undiscovered regional destinations… and Abruzzo has it all.
This includes lakes, the Adriatic coast, national parks, imposing mountain ranges, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of the most beautiful medieval towns in the country, and a deliciously varied cuisine that ranges from the beach to the mountains. “Abruzzo surprises you, it is what most people expect from an Italian holiday experience, but you simply cannot find it in the more famous destinations.” No crowds, easy access from Rome and its own airport in Pescara (with connections to major Italian, British and European cities), Abruzzo has something for everyone: from the food and wine tourist to the adventurous and sporty traveler.
1. Abruzzo quality cuisine
With the mountains and sea as strategic borders, fishing and agriculture are the lifeblood of this region. The cuisine ranges from the coast, where fish dishes are prominent, to inland where legumes and meat – especially mutton and pork – predominate. Arrosticini, thin skewers, are one of the most famous dishes. They are simply salted and grilled and are eaten in large quantities at family tables as well as in the many restaurants. Abruzzo also has a long history of pasta making, making handmade spaghetti alla chitarra, a dish originally from the province of Teramo, for over 200 years. This egg paste is pushed through a wooden object that has stainless steel guitar-like strings. In addition, many fish dishes and local specialties are abundant. Pecorino cheese is also an absolute must! Also worth mentioning are the truffles, which are found in nature with dogs, and of course the delicious olive oil and the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine …
2. Culinary courses
In Abruzzo there are many Culinary courses where guests learn how to make at least two types of traditional pasta, and then there is the local wine to wash down with. The Teramo region is best known for its typical and delicious food.
3. World famous wine, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Pecorino
There are many good wineries where you can taste and buy delicious wine. When it comes to wine, Abruzzo is known for its red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, produced from the Montepulciano grape. This is unrelated to the Sangiovese grape used to make the Tuscan Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Most of the region’s wine production is located in the province of Chieti and some of the first bottles of Montepulciano to receive the coveted DOC (denominazione di origine controllata) seal are on display at the EnoMuseo wine museum in Tollo (Via Cesare Battisti, Tollo) . There are also local producers who produce organic and vegan wines.
4. Idyllic beaches
Abruzzo has its own reputation for long sandy beaches along the Adriatic coast. The provinces of Chieti and Teramo have a large number of beaches that consistently receive the Italian Blue Flag (Zona Blue) rating, a quality indication for beautiful beaches and pure sea water.
Popular with the locals, Ortona has many beach clubs and Pineto is another beach town with sandy beaches shaded by the pine trees that give it its name.
To the south is Vasto, once a famous Roman fishing village. Vasto has a beautiful sandy beach. The characteristic medieval town is situated a bit higher and offers a beautiful view of the sea.
5. Beautiful lakes and natural springs
Abruzzo has three national parks, including wolves and bears, with breathtaking views and beauty of nature. There are beautiful lakes between the mountains. Bomba, Scanno and Barrea are some of the most beautiful of the Seven Lakes, surrounded by mountains and winding roads to get there. The Sorgenti del Pescara (nature reserve with crystal clear springs) near the small town of Popoli is another favorite with the locals, especially on hot summer days.
6. Spectacular ski and hiking trails
Abruzzo is known as the “greenest region in Europe”, thanks to the Majella National Park, among other things. A third of the region is made up of national parks, making it Italy’s most rural region. With their mountainous scenery, it is no wonder that towns like Roccaraso, Castel di Sangro, Ovindoli and Campo Felice are a magnet for avid skiers from Italy and other parts of Europe. At Passo Lanciano you have a magnificent view of the sea from the slopes. And yes, you can ski here in the morning and lie on the beach in the afternoon! With the Gran Sasso (2,912 meters high) and the Majella (2,793 meters high) as the highest peaks, the ski areas are a worthy alternative to the Alpine destinations at a fraction of the cost. In the warmer months, hiking trails in many of these towns are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Some of the best are in the Abruzzo National Park and the Majella National Park. Campo Imperatore, a plateau of 16 km long where there are traditionally many sheep and wild horses, is also worth a visit and offers impressive hiking tours.
7. Preserved medieval towns and castles
8. Italian confetti and nougat
Sulmona is known as the capital of sugared almonds, known as “confetti” in Italian, and the Torrone, classic Italian nougat. The town of Sulmona is located in a UNESCO-protected valley, which was once a prehistoric lake …
The streets here are lined with floral creations made of confetti covered with colored paper and bundled in bouquets. You can buy these artificial flowers in every conceivable flavor – Nutella, tiramisu, ricotta and pear, fruit of the forest, hazelnut, and so on …
9. Top restaurants
To keep honoring historical traditions and local customs, there are quality restaurants all over Abruzzo to enjoy delicious lunches and dinners. One of Italy’s most famous chefs, Heinz Beck, is at the helm of Café Les Paillotes (Piazza le Laudi 2, Pescara). The eatery is located on the seafront in Pescara overlooking the Adriatic Sea and now has a Michelin star. Niko Romito has been running Reale (Piana Santa Liberata, Castel di Sangro) with his sister Cristiana since 2000. The self-taught chef was awarded three Michelin stars in 2013 – there are only eight restaurants in Italy with this title. Set in a 16th-century former monastery in Castel di Sangro, Reale’s menu combines haute cuisine with the best products from Abruzzo and beyond. But in addition to these top Michelin restaurants, everywhere in Abruzzo it is possible to enjoy the traditional original Abruzzo cuisine …
10. De Trabocchi coast
This 70 km long coastline, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches from Ortona to San Salvo in the province of Chieti. The most striking sight is a collection of fishing net structures known as trabocchi. Historically, the trabocchi were used by the fisherman to avoid deep waters and to collect fish varieties such as anchovies, sardines, sea bream and sea bass. While many trabocchi are no longer in use because they cannot compete with modern fishing techniques, some are still managed by generations of fishermen and now function as seafood restaurants.
