Abruzzo

Italy
Dello Splendore Museum showing heritage elements
Discover sublime sandy bays, beautiful forests, immense mountain ranges and the friendly hospitality of this stunning region.

Sunbathe on golden beaches or dance for hours in lively bars during your stay in Abruzzo. Visit fascinating museums and head to the Apennines for fantastic skiing.

Bask in the sun on the 10-mile (16-kilometer) beach that fronts the city of Pescara. Cool off with a refreshing drink at a nearby bar. Stroll through town to the Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo and learn about the region’s past from as much as 650,000 years ago.

Enjoy delicious fish near the water or go north to the bars and clubs of Alba Adriatica. Join an international crowd partying late into the night, especially during August’s Alba Carnaval. Watch performers wearing spectacular costumes and experience the community coming together for a festival of music and dancing.

For a quieter option, make the short drive from Pescara inland to the hilltop town of Chieti. Look around the enthralling Museo Archeologico Nazionale d’Abruzzo. The collection’s highlight is a 6th-century B.C. Warrior of Capestrano, considered a very important central Italian pre-Roman artifact.

Journey west toward the Parco Nazionale della Majella. Stop along the way to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from the market at Sulmona and continue to the park access point at Campo di Giove. This small village is a gateway to miles of hiking and mountain biking through stunning woodland. Listen to wolves howling and watch for rare lynx.

In the winter, get some fresh alpine air by driving to the south of Abruzzo to the town of Roccaraso, one of Italy’s largest ski areas. The slopes here remain relatively crowd-free. Half of the runs are intended for beginners. There are also challenging black-graded slopes and two freestyle parks.

Abruzzo is approximately 2 hours east of Rome. The coastal towns are the farthest distances. Choose from the extensive range of summer hotels and villas or come in winter when the mountain resorts come alive.

At any time of year, Abruzzo offers plenty of choice, from serene beach holidays to alpine adventures.