A third of its territory is protected land: Abruzzo is Italy's region of parks, where the Marsican brown bear and Apennine chamois survive two hours from Rome. The Gran Sasso rises to 2,912 metres at Corno Grande above the Campo Imperatore plateau — nicknamed "little Tibet" — while Rocca Calascio, one of Italy's highest castles, stands sentinel at 1,460 metres. Then there's the Trabocchi coast, where wooden fishing machines on stilts have become restaurants over the water.
Arrosticini lamb skewers, pecorino and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine complete the picture: real mountains, real food.
The provinces of Abruzzo
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The best of Abruzzo
The places worth the trip on their own, picked by our editors.
The top 3 places in Abruzzo
Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →
1
🏰 Castles & palaces Rocca Calascio
📍 Calascio
The highest fortress in the Apennines is a 10th-century military stronghold overlooking the Gran Sasso National Park.
2
🌋 Nature & views Campo Imperatore
📍 L'Aquila
Known as "Little Tibet," this vast Apennine plateau features Europe's southernmost glacier and a rich cinematic history.
3
🏖️ Beaches & sea Punta Aderci Reserve
📍 Vasto
Established in 1998, this 285-hectare coastal reserve features sandy dunes and the towering Punta Penna lighthouse.