Information about Abruzzo

Abruzzo that has its kingdom in these magical mountains.

With property built entirely out of local stone, all the old villages of the Abruzzo mountains express and reflect the beauty of the rich and natural landscape. If you looking for sun, sand, walking and sking Abruzzo is the place to be. With property prices lower than its neighbours Le Marche and Tuscany buying in Abruzzo is now the investors choice.

The regional capital is L'Aquila. The region is divided into four provinces: L'Aquila (the largest), Teramo, Chieti (the most populous) and Pescara, Abruzzo's main economic centre. The four provinces are further divided into 305 municipalities. Abruzzo has a population of around 1.3 million.

Geography
The region covers 10,794 kmē almost two-thirds of which is mountainous. The remainder of the land consists of hills sloping to a narrow plain that runs for most of the 129 kilometre long Adriatic coastline. The Apennine mountain chain runs through the Abruzzo and high points are the Gran Sasso (2914m) and the Maiella Massif (2795m). The maine rivers are the Aterno-Pescara, the Sangro and the Tronto.

Nature
One third of the region is designated as national or regional park. The following parks lie, wholly or partially, within Abruzzo:

  • Abruzzo National Park
  • National Park of the Gran Sasso
  • National Park of the Maiella
  • Sirente Velino Regional Park
  • Barrea Lake Wetlands


The protected areas are environmentally important and are home to rare flora and fauna, such as the brown bear, the wolf and the chamois.


The region is rich in natural beauties and history, but is only just starting to be discovered by mass tourism. Abruzzo's wealth of castles and medieval towns, especially near the town of L'Aquila has earned it in some quarters the nickname of "Abruzzoshire", by analogy with the "Chiantishire" nickname sometimes used to refer to the Chianti area of Tuscany.

Some towns in Abruzzo include L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, Teramo, Vasto, Avezzano, Giulianova, Sulmona, Lanciano, Montesilvano, Francavilla al Mare, Roseto, Penne, Castel di Sangro and, smaller in size, Lettomanopello, Tortoreto, Alba Adriatica, Pescasseroli, Collelongo, Villavallelonga, Gissi, Rocca di Mezzo near Campo Felice, a ski resort in the Gran Sasso Mountains, Ovindoli, another ski resort near the Velino mountain, and Roccaraso, the first ski resort in the South - Central Italy, near Castel di Sangro.

For more information about Abruzzo consult the Wiki