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Bradt Travel Guide: Italy: Abruzzo remains the only full English-language guide to this beautiful and increasingly favoured part of Italy. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to cover all developments since the last edition, reflecting the region's growing popularity for holiday homes and as a busy conference destination at the heart of Italy, plus its appeal for wildlife and active tourism, including trekking, family holidays and horse-riding. Abruzzo offers the best of undiscovered Italy from pristine beaches to mountain glaciers, with some of Italy's most beautiful medieval villages clinging to the hillsides in between. This brand new edition of Bradt Travel Guide: Italy: Abruzzo provides all the practical and background information you'll need to explore this surprising region.
What makes the Abruzzo region remarkable is that it is still about as unique and authentic an Italian experience as you can get in a country so devoured by international tourism. Abruzzo offers one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country, only a short distance from the tallest mountain ranges in Italy outside the Alps (it is the second most popular skiing centre in Italy outside the Alps) and one of the best places for hiking and flora/fauna spotting. What's more, despite the economic downturn of recent times, the regional government continues to invest in a 'beautification' project for its major urban centres and in the development of its regional highlights such as mountains, wildlife parks and rural towns. It's notable that in the 2017 national competition for 'I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia' (The Most Beautiful Towns in Italy) programme, Abruzzo was recognised as having 23 of the country's most beautiful towns, trailing second only behind Umbria and with at least a handful more than Tuscany. Intriguingly, Madonna's family hails from the town of Pacentro, to which the singer donated US$ 500,000 for restoration works after the 2009 earthquake in the region.
Blue Flag beaches, mountain hiking and where to spot rare wildlife such as bears and wolves are all covered, as are untouched castles and frescoed churches and the region's plethora of Roman ruins. Italian cooking and the best places to eat are featured (Abruzzo is home to the majority of Italy's domestic pasta production), and there is extensive coverage of culture and language (Abruzzo is one of Italy's most linguistically diverse regions). Written with warmth and insight by a native Abruzzese, Bradt Travel Guide: Italy: Abruzzo contains all the information you need to discover this enchanting part of Italy.
Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography, Geology, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Culture
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health and safety, LGBT travellers, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Opening times, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Activities, Media and communications, Buying property, Travelling positively
PART TWO PESCARA
Chapter 3 Pescara
History, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 4 Pescara Province
Suggested itinerary, Montesilvano, Citta Sant'Angelo, Spoltore, Moscufo, Pianella, Loreto Aprutino, Penne, Nora River valley and surrounds, Pescara River valley, Majella National Park and surrounds
PART THREE L'AQUILA
Chapter 5 L'Aquila
History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 6 L'Aquila Province: Gran Sasso National Park and Surrounds
Suggested itinerary, Amiternum, San Vittorino, Lago di Campotosto, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Fortress of Rocca Calascio, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Castel del Monte, Campo Imperatore, Assergi
Chapter 7 L'Aquila Province: Sirente Velino Regional Park and Surrounds
Suggested itinerary, Skiing, Celano, Alba Fucens, Ovindoli, Rocca di Mezzo, Rocca di Cambio, Ocre, Fossa, The Stiffe Caves, Peltuinum, Caporciano, Bominaco, Navelli, Capestrano
Chapter 8 L'Aquila Province: Southwest Abruzzo
Suggested itinerary, Avezzano, The Fucino Basin and around, The Roveto Valley, Scurcola Marsicana, Tagliacozzo
Chapter 9 L'Aquila Province: National Park of Abruzzo and Surrounds
Suggested itinerary, Getting there and around, Pescasseroli, Opi, The Fondillo Valley and around, Villetta Barrea, Barrea, Lago di Barrea and around, Scanno, Villalago, Anversa degli Abruzzi
Chapter 10 L'Aquila Province: Majella National Park and Surrounds
Suggested itinerary, Sulmona, Pacentro, Pescocostanzo
PART FOUR TERAMO
Chapter 11 Teramo
History, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Other practicalities, Entertainment and nightlife, What to see and do
Chapter 12 Teramo Province
Suggested itinerary, Coastal Teramo, Vibrata River valley, Tordino River valley, Vomano River valley, Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park and surrounds
PART FIVE CHIETI
Chapter 13 Chieti
History, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 14 Chieti Province
Suggested itinerary, Chieti Province: the north, Chieti Province: the south, Majella National Park and surrounds, Coastal Chieti
Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Glossary of Flora and Fauna
Appendix 3 Further Information
Index
Luciano Di Gregorio is a teacher of English and Linguistics as well as a freelance travel writer and journalist. He writes regularly for newspapers and magazines and has updated several other guidebooks. He was born and raised as a child in Pescara, grew up in Melbourne and is currently working as teacher at an international school in Hong Kong. In school holidays, he divides his time between Melbourne and his house in Abruzzo.
