Abita Italia - Background information on Abruzzo

The name Abruzzo derives from the Latin Aprutium. Abruzzo lies 70 miles east of Rome between the Apennines and the Adriatic. This region of Italy covers 700,000 sq miles and has a population of 1.3 million.
Until 1963 Abruzzo was part of the Abruzzi region with Molise. The term Abruzzi derives from the time when the region was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the territory was administered as Abruzzo Citeriore (Nearer Abruzzo) and Abruzzo Ulteriore I and II (Farther Abruzzo I and II ), that being nearer and farther from Naples, the capital of the kingdom. Abruzzo Citeriore is present day Chieti province. Abruzzo Ulteriore I comprised the Teramo and Pescara provinces; Abruzzo Ulteriore II is now the Province of L'Aquila.

In the past decade tourism has increased mostly among Italian and other Europeans. The wealth of castles and medieval towns has earned it the name “Abruzzoshire” by analogy with the “Chiantishire” nickname sometimes used to refer to the Chianti area of Tuscany. There are four national parks that cover a third with 37 nature reserves and 80per cent of all Europe’s flora and fauna species. Sheepdogs still wear spiked collars when protecting their flocks because wolves and bears still prowl the mountains of the Majella. Abruzzo is under visited and property prices are low. Tuscany has the small villages but none of the spectacular mountain ranges found in Abruzzo.

The region has 21 ski areas with 368 km. of runs all within a few hours of Rome. The most developed resort is Roccaraso followed by Campo Felice and Campo Imperatore. Located in the highest region of the Apennies these ski areas are comparable to many alpine resorts. Because of the distance to the Adriatic there is often more snow than the Alps. Abruzzo is popular for cross country skiing, especially on the high plain of Campo Imperatore in the Gran Sasso as well as the Piana Grande in the Majella. The Gran Sasso massif has highest peak in Italy, Corno Grande, and Europe’s southernmost glacier, Il Calderone. The Corno Grande and the Corno Piccolo provide a range of climbing opportunities from mountain hikes suitable for novices to sheer rock wall ascents suitable only for expert alpinists. Abruzzo’s lesser known peaks, especially the gentler slopes of the Majella, offer climbers the opportunity to hike and climb in solitude. Abruzzo’s 129 km. long sandy coastline is home to a many popular beach resorts including Vasto on Abruzzo’s southern coast; mid-coast are Silvi Marina, whose sands are considered among the best in Italy, Giulianova, Francavilla al Mare and Pineto, and on Abruzzo’s northern coast are Alba Adriatica and Martinsicuro. Away from the coast you find rolling hills and vineyards for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and wheat for the best pasta. Spring and autumn see a succession of festivals, from flowers to chestnuts and witches to snakes.

Abruzzo has some of Italy's best-preserved medieval and Renaissance hill towns. The decline of Abruzzo’s agricultural economy in the early to mid-20th century saved some of the region’s most beautiful hill towns from the onslaught of modern development. Many lie entirely within regional and national parks so their preservation is all but guaranteed. The most well preserved are Castel del Monte (AQ) and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which lie in the Gran Sasso National Park on the edge of the high plain of Campo Imperatore and nestled beneath the Apennines’ highest peaks; both hill towns, which were ruled by the Medicis for over a century-and-a-half, have relatively little tourism. Between the two towns sits Rocca di Calascio, the ruin of an ancient fortress popular with film makers. Also within the Gran Sasso National Park is Castelli, an ancient pottery center whose artisans produced ceramics for most of the royal houses of Europe. Although still home to many artisans, Castelli has a modest tourist trade. Other medieval hill towns located fully within Abruzzo's park system are Pacentro in the Parco Nazionale della Majella and Pescasseroli in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo.

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