Capital: L'Aquila

Abruzzo

Where Mountains Meet the Sea

Landscape of Abruzzo

Overview

Abruzzo is one of Italy's best-kept secrets—a rugged, mountainous region where the Apennines plunge dramatically toward the Adriatic coast. Home to three national parks covering nearly a third of its territory, Abruzzo offers pristine wilderness, medieval hilltop villages, and a culinary tradition rooted in shepherding and the sea. Here, wolves still roam the forests, ancient trattorias serve handmade pasta, and life moves at a pace forgotten elsewhere in Italy.

Highlights

  • 01Gran Sasso, the highest peak in the Apennines
  • 02Trabocchi coast with traditional fishing platforms
  • 03Sulmona, birthplace of confetti (sugared almonds)
  • 04Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a beautifully restored medieval borgo