L'Aquila

It is an agricultural and industrial center, and a summer resort. A motorway that connects it with Rome is being extended to the Adriatic coast. Manufactures include building materials, machinery, and electronic equipment. L'Aquila is situated at the foot of the Gran Sasso d'Italia mountain group and is a popular base for mountain climbing.

What to taste:

The typical products of L'Aquila include white and summer scorsone truffle and pork sausages. A traditional dish is the lamb incaporchiato (covered lamb). In the past people ate meat only on special occasions, so farmers cooked the lamb in a pot covered by another pot and without spices or aromatic herbs: it didn't smell and they didn't arouse people's curiosity. Times have changed, but this is still a traditional recipe.

In almost every household we can find cheese, such as the pecorino cheese and the marcetto, a kind of ripe pecorino fermented with milk. Since it is not allowed to sell the marcetto in shops, you can find it only in local private houses, for family consumption. Among the most famous spices of Abruzzi, don't forget the zafferano of L'Aquila.

Other local dishes of L'Aquila are: maccheroni alla chitarra, gnocchetti with cheese and eggs, roast lamb, kid, lamb with cheese and eggs.

The local wines of the province are the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

The most famous sweets are the confetti of Sulmona, the Ferratelle (sweet wafers with eggs and anise), the Castagnaccio and the chocolate torrone, typical of L'Aquila.

Cities & Towns:

More info her on all the Municipalities, Cities, Towns and Villages - Abruzzo

What to do:

• Skiing is the most common sport, both cross-country and downhill skiing. Campo di Giove, Campo Felice, Campo Imperatore, Ovindoli and Scanno are the most famous ski runs.
• Trekking, jogging, horseriding, bicycling and mountain biking along the valleys and slopes of the countryside. Experts scour the woods searching for epigeal mushrooms and truffles, that they cook on the spot. 
• Open-air celebrations and popular festivals are often organized in the province of L'Quila, typical and folkloristic occasions representing a revival of the old traditions and offering the possibility to taste traditional local products.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Besides the Abruzzo National Park, the province boasts several natural treasures such as part of the Maiella National Park, with Mount Amaro (2.795 m), the second highest mountain of the Apennine, and the Sirente-Velino Regional Park, with the Aterno river, regarded as the coldest in Italy. Finally, there is the "Zompo lo Schioppo" Natural Reserve, with the most suggestive waterfall of the Apennine.
• Sulmona, hometown of the Latin poet Ovidio, is very rich in monuments and works of art. It has also a thriving handicrafts industry and it is well-known for its typical confetti (sugared almond confections).
• Castel di Sangro, at the southern border of the province, is dominated by the Collegiata dell'Assunta, a little XIII century architectonic jewel with two portals, a Renaissance one and Romanesque one. Tagliacotto, on the slopes of Mount Bove, is well-known for its ancient noble residences.
• The territory of L'Aquila presents ruins of ancient pagan temples together with Roman settlements reflecting the religious traditions of the land, such as the many Benedictine monumental complexes of the Romanesque age: the S.Pietro Church in Alba Fucense, built on the ruins of a pagan temple and with its characteristic XIII century mosaics; the S. Maria in valle Porclaneta Church in Rosciolo, at the foot of Mount Velino; the S.Maria and S. Pellegrino monumental complex in Bominaco, on the tableland of Navelli. The Cathedral of S. Pelino in Corfino is also sightworthy.
• The beauty of art perfectly merges into the beauty of valleys, mountains and tablelands. Don't forget the tablelands of Campo Imperatore del Gran Sasso, a few kilometers from L'Aquila, and the tableland of Velino-Sirente. Finally, the town of Scanno is really sightworthy, with its lake and the famous Sagittario and Aterno gorges.

Events:

• Open-air celebrations and popular festivals are often organized in the province of L'Quila, typical and folkloristic occasions representing a revival of the old traditions and offering the possibility to taste traditional local products.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Restaurants in close proximity:

• The best food in L'Aquila is local foods and you will have many opportunities to emerse yourself in local culture by selecting a different trattoria, osteria or pizzeria to eat in every day. Many of these old fashioned places are run by local families who specialize in authentic regional cuisine at low prices. L'Aquila also offers many charming outdoor cafes where you can sip coffee and munch on light dishes and several great gelato places to grab a delicious ice cream. Some of the best restaurants in L'Aquila are La Meta, Trattorie La Matriciana and Ristorante L'Antico Borgo. If it's nightlife you crave head to one of the local pubs where regional wines can be sampled along with yummy cocktails and traditional appetizers.  
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Chieti

Population: ca. 56000 inhabitants
Zip code: 66100
Phone Area Code: 0871
HOW TO REACH IT: road: s.s.n. 5; motorway: A25 exit Chieti

Chieti lies on a crest along the Pescara river with its unmistakable profile with the high belltower of San Giustino against the sky, a few km away from the Adriatic Sea, and with the Majella and Gran Sasso in the background. It was a Roman town, Teate, and and important medieval centre, that's why walking through the city you see Roman and medieval ruins side by side.

What to taste:

• Traditional olive oil. Truffles, honey and jams made with seasonal fruits are the most noteworthy products.
• Among the most famous kinds of cheese, there are the typical cheeses of Guardiagrele: the provolone, both mild and strong, the ricotta and the pecorino (made with sheep milk).
• The major fish dishes are the anchovies all'ortonese and the cuttlefish alla sanvitese. The city of Lanciano produces a very good and spicy hot pepper. Sweets are based on simple ingredients: the pizzelle, the tarallucci, the cicerchiata and the fiadoni, traditional Easter sweets.
• And don't forget the typical wines of Abruzzi, such as the red wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and the white wines Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo. Local liqueurs are also very famous, such as the well-known Amaro abruzzese.

Cities & Towns:

More info her on all the Municipalities, Cities, Towns and Villages - Abruzzo

What to do:

• The variety of the Chieti landscape can inspire different outdoors activities in every season.
• In winter, the ski season is active on the ski runs of Pizzoferrato and Gamberale, among the rocks and woods of the Pizzi Mountains. Furthermore, the northern border of the Majella crest presents ski runs such as Passolanciano and La Majelletta. Everywhere it is possible to go in for downhill and cross-country skiing.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

Events:

• 17 January: Festa di S. Antonio, con rappresentazione satirica delle tentazioni del Santo
• 8 May: Festa di S. Giustino
• 26 July: Festa di S. Anna
• 2-3 August: Feast of St. Stefano
• 5 August: Festival of "donativi"
• 15 August: Feast of the Assunta, patron of Castel Frentano
• Throughout August: Art exhibitions, sports events, wine and local food festivals.

Restaurants in close proximity:

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Pescara

Pescara has a population of 150,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Abruzzo. Rich, dynamic and a large economic, commercial and tourist area in the Adriatic area. It's beautiful beaches that extend 20 kilometers. It's inner urban industrial area includes the following communities (Pescara, Montesilavano, Chieti, Francavilla, Città S. Angelo, Spoltore) which includes another 400,000 inhabitants.

What to taste:

• The typical dishes of Pescara are based on natural products, such as olive oil, honey and the well-known lamb arrosticini. A traditional and well-appreciated product is the porchetta, that is the inside of the pig - without the entrails - slowly browned in the oven. Another typical dish is the sheep alla callara, seasoned with several herbs and cooked in a pot for hours.
• The typical wines of the province are: Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Cerasuolo and also the Moscato di Castiglione a Casauria.

Cities & Towns:

What to do:

• The coastline offers both relax and several summer sports: swimming, spinning and water bike, but also beach volley, beach golf, windsurf and watercraft.
• The Tirino river, instead, is the ideal location to canoe or cycle with a mountain bike along its shores, a 30 km network of trails. The territory is the ideal place also for birdwatching, trekking and photography, to discover the chamois and wolf kingdom. The area of Roccamaiore (Valle dell'Orta) is one of the major climbing sites in Italy.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Pescara presents museums, such as the Paolo Barrasso Naturalistic and Archaeological Museum of Caramaico Terme, and the Museum and Archives of Contemporary Artists of Abruzzi hosted in the Nocciano Castle. Then there are the San Clemente Abbey of Casauria (Castiglione a Casauria), the Museum of Traditions and Folk Arts (Picciano), the Museum of the Salle Castle, the Ducal Tavern (Popoli) and the Oil Museum (Loreto Aprutino).
• The National park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, the Majella National Park, but also the natural reserves of Pineta di Santa FIlomena, Valle dell'Orfento, Lama Bianca di Sant'Eufemia a Maiella and Piana Grande della Majelletta. And then there are the provincial reserves of Lago di Penne, la Pineta Dannunziana (D’Annunzio’s pine grove) and the natural guided reserve Sorgenti del Fiume Pescara.
• Cathedral of San Cetteo, patron saint of the city, with a magnificent 17th century painting by Guercino representing St. Francis of Assisi and the marble mausoleum of Gabriele D'Annunzio's mother
• The native home of Gabriele D'Annunzio (18th century), restored in the 1930's
• The Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo, among the most impressive in the region, collecting in the many rooms all sides of the life, traditions, economy of the Abruzzo peoples from prehistory to the 19th century
• The Palazzo del Governo, preserving fine statues of Giudo Costanzo from Ortona and the huge painting "La Figlia di Iorio", the most celebrated work of painter Francesco Paolo Michetti from Tocco
• Church of the Spirito Santo
• Church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo
• A number of works by sculptor Pietro Cascella (born in Pescara in 1921), among them one of the symbols of the city, "La Nave", along the seafront facing central Piazza Salotto
• The Museo Cascella
• The Museo Ittico

Events:

• Late May - early July: Festivity of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori
• July: International Jazz Festival
• July: the "Ennio Flaiano" prize (for the sections theater, cinema, television, literature)
• Last Sunday in July: feast in honor of Sant'Andrea the Apostle, with a famous parade of fishing motorboats off the coast.

• The old town and seafront are the places to head for. You can eat well cheaply or blow the budget at one of the great fish restaurants. Other than fish, local specialities include arrosticini, charcoal grilled cubed lamb on skewers, and chitarra, very thin egg pasta made on the strings of a guitar hence the name. There are at least 20 bars in the old town. During the summer their tables spill out onto the cobblestone streets and it's a great place to enjoy the sites. Pizza restaurants are the mainstay of the seafront with one or two outstanding fish places and a couple of Chinese restaurants.
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Teramo

The province of Teramo borders on Marche (north), the province of Pescara and L'Aquila (south) and Lazio (west); it is characterized by the eastern side of the Apennine and by valleys gently sloping to the Adriatic coastline. Its territory counts 47 municipalities; in addition to the chief town Teramo, the most densely-populated ones are Roseto degli Abruzzi and Giulianova. The Piceni are one of the ancient populations who lived in this area, which then was included in the territory of the region Marche. The province of Teramo was established in 1806 by the Realm of Naples, separating it from the actual province of L'Aquila.

The territory of Teramo is dominated by two major mountains: the Laga massif, with its woods, gorges and waterfalls, an the Gran Sasso d'Italia, representing the western border of the province and culminating with the Corno Grande (2912 mt). Here there is also the Calderone, the southernmost glacier of Europe.

On the coastline there are the "seven sisters", the seven seaside resorts of the province, with their sandy beaches and a mediterranean climate fostering the growth of palms, pine trees and oleanders. However the province is mostly hilly. One of the several rivers flowing along the valleys is the Vomano, which creates the Campotosto lake.

Two great monuments, not far away from each other, are almost the symbols of the town and its history: the majestic Cathedral, built in 1158 by Guido II, and the Roman theatre, built about 30 B.C., where still today sports and cultural events take place. The summer calendar of events is very rich with for example the Teramo Literary Prize and the Interamnia Handball Cup, an international event with athletes coming from all over the world. This town The economy of the town is mostly based on activities connected with agriculture and commerce, as well as a sound industrial sector: textiles, foods, engineering, building materials and ceramics.

What to taste:

• The typical products of this province are based on local fruit and rural flavors. The harvesting and selling of Valle Castellana chesnuts dates back to the XIII century. The pecorino marcetto is a typical inland cheese, creamy and gold, with its strong smell and strong flavour.
• The Millefiori mountain honey is especially tasty. The truffle of the Laga (both black and white) is one of the most precious and sought-after products, typically Italian but sold all over the world.
• At Christmas Eve it is traditional to cook stockfish: it's a very tasty dish that needs a three-days’ preparation and is based on oil, onion, spices, chestnuts, nuts and raisins.
• The most appreciated typical wines are: the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, the Controguerra and the Colli Abrutini.

Cities & Towns:

What to do:

• Teramo with its natural reserves is the ideal destination for those who love photography, birdwatching and trekking.
• The coast offers a variety of possibilities for those who love watersports. Bathing facilities have sport areas but there are also many  clubs, pubs, disco-bars, the Aquapark, the kart racing track and riding schools.
• In summer, every town organizes cultural activities and wine-and-food tasting events to promote local products and handicrafts.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• The major museum is the F. Savini Archaeological Museum. Among the major artistic monuments of the city there is the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Bernardo.
• The Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, raising on a Benedectine convent, is also sightworthy. Among its historical buildings there is the Melatino house (Largo Melatini), a XII century medieval building.
• Roseto degli Abruzzi, best known as Lido delle Rose, is one of the major tourist
• The Sant'Antimo church, built by Pope Sisto V, and the S.S. Annunziata church, dating back to the end of the XVI century, are sightworthy. In summer, the Roseto Opera Prima film festival brightens up the coastline gathering many Italian cinema actors.
• The Duomo of San Flaviano, the seaside Belvedere at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and the charming Shrine of the Madonna dello Splendore, celebrating the apparition of the Madonna to a peasant in 1557.
• The Museum of Art dello Splendore, the Torrione "Il Bianco" Archaeological Museum, the Hall of the Sculptor Raffaello Pagliaccetti, the de' Bartolomei Chapel and the Gaetano Braga House-Museum are also sightworthy.
• The necropolis of Campovalano includes about ten thousand tombs which are supposed to be related to the presence of Piceni. 
• Cathedral (12th-14th century) with inside a frontal by Nicola da Guardiagrele and 15th century polyptych
• Remains of the Roman Amphitheatre and theatre (3rd-9th century), which could accomodate over three thousand people
• Church of San Getulio, built in the early Middle Ages on the ruins of a Roman temple, finally destroyed in 1155 by the Normans; today only the presbyterium and some Romanesque elements can steill be seen of the old Pretorotecture.
• Church of Sant'Antonio (13th century), previously San Francesco, with its fine Romanesque portal
• Church of Madonna delle Grazie (dating back to the 11th century)
• Church of San Domenico (14th century) with a fine Virgin with Child, probably by Gagliardelli
• Archeological Museum with surrounding park
• Chiesa di S. Agostino
• Chiesa di S. Spirito
• Chiesa di S. Benedetto, with fine paintings of the XVI-XVIII centuries
• Casa Melatino
• Palazzo Delfico
• Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie with a remarkable sculpture of the Virgin with child, probably by Silvestro dell'Aquila

Events: Festivities

• Late June: Feast of Madonna delle Grazie
• Late July: "I Trionfi", a historical re-enactment with people in costume and allegorical waggons
• Late July: Sagra of ham, cheese and "casereccio" bread

Tours avaiable in the region:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• You will be delighted to find many small restaurants that serve dishes typical to the Teramo region like pasta alla chitarra ("guitar pasta"). Chitarra pasta is a flat pasta that looks similar to fettuccine and is usually made with eggs. This pasta got its name because it is made using a stringed metal device called a chitarra and is most often served with tomato-based sauces that include lamb, along with meatballs. It is widely thought that some of the world's best pasta all chitarra dishes can be found in Valle San Giovanni, located about six miles from Teramo.
• Scrippelle, a crepe-like creations typically made without milk is another local dish to try when in Termamo. There are two common varieties of scripelle. The first one is scrippelle 'mbusse (crepes with cheese made in broth) and the second is timballo, which is scrippelle layered with ragù, polpettini, cheeses like samorza, and sometimes even piselli (peas).
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