3865 Abruzzo Attractions

Hi All,

Seeing as Abruzzo is a region coming in for much discussion at the moment I was wondering if you could help me out by listing some of the 'must see' attractions of this region?

I will be returning to Pescara for a long weekend starting on Thursday, 8th June and would really like to explore more of the area. We have already been around much of the region between Pescara and Vasto, and inland as far as Pescocostanzo, Palena and Lake Bomba, but would now like to venture further afield.

Any ideas on what to see, where to go, where to eat (most important) and what not to miss?

Category
Travel & Holiday Advice

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 09:34

Hi Sano
Why not try northern Abruzzo. I would suggest visiting Teramo then go up the SS81 towards Ascoli Piceno (just over the border) which is worth a trip. In between the two towns still along the SS81 you can take a couple of small diversions to visit Campli, Civitella del Tronto, Grotte S. Angelo and Le Gole del Salinello in the National Park (Monti Della Laga).

I can suggest some very good restaurants in this area if you deicide to go.

Biagio

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 11:38

I love a place called [B]Salle[/B] that's the old abandoned village in the Maiella Park which you approach by following a sign to Salle Vecchio from modern Salle.I was there on my own at about 6pm last September and it was spooky ( in a nice kind of way) feeling all those people who once lived in the village.the castle is open sometimes but I that didn't attract me so much.The views are wonderful.

If you feel like walking there's a lovely walk just before Caramanico Terme.Park on the left before you go over bridge that spans a wooded gorge and climb down into the gorge.You can walk any way there and it would be a wonderful place for a picnic.Nearby Decontra is a lovely mountain village with a bike hire place ( seemed to be shut in September) and a restaurant but you need to book.Think its Del Lupo ?

we are going on 7th!

Becky

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 11:42

biagio
could not have suggested a better route myself.... although coming in from the coast...if you come that way i would suggest looking out for signs for some of the finer wineries ...

as for eating most of the places i know are too hard for non locals to find and would suggest you offer to take me to lunch and i can show at least one of the finer...maybe not so fine..... eating places.... you do have to be prepared to eat whatever they bring to the table....

now thats a strange thing....... apart from tripe ... i pretty well eat everything they bring me in the agriturismo(S) here.... and as i am generally surround by tables filled with italians have noticed that they also seem to be able to follow this same method of eating.... yet when we go out with english people i would say about fifty per cent of them have a lot of difficulty with various things... its either allergies or health considerations or god knows what... is it just people we know or does anyone else that lives here that has visitors from the UK...worse USA .. i would say the percentage rises to 70 per cent with them....... have difficulty with knowing where to take people

now bear with me on this... before you shout rascist or whatever.... but the italians live longer and better than either of the aformentioned populations .... so it seems to me they have it right.... and its all the worrying over what you can eat or cant...should eat or shouldnt that kills you.... so my point is i am trying to help the citizens of those counties realise that they would live longer and better when they do arrive if they just... at least for a couple of days .... sat down and tucked into everything... you'll live longer............. and be much happier...

notice sano i mentioned nothing of your background and if we ever do meet for lunch knowing your interest in food am sure you will not fall into my bad books with fads

sorry for going off a bit... am sure there are people with lots more info about things .... oh yes... pop up to the gran sasso.... prato di tivo area.... snow should have partially melted by then but its a nice hike after you park the car and there are plenty of restaturants up that way.... but not really good ... until you drive down a bit and head towards pietracamella.. or some such name...that has several good restaurants

i can also reccomend a good hotel restatuarant in civitella right in the main square... an old family run place...sort of special...but it is fairly expensive so best for special occaisions ... back on track............

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 11:45

[QUOTE=adriatica]biagio
could not have suggested a better route myself.... although coming in from the coast...if you come that way i would suggest looking out for signs for some of the finer wineries ...

as for eating most of the places i know are too hard for non locals to find and would suggest you offer to take me to lunch and i can show at least one of the finer...maybe not so fine..... eating places.... you do have to be prepared to eat whatever they bring to the table....

now thats a strange thing....... apart from tripe ... i pretty well eat everything they bring me in the agriturismo(S) here.... and as i am generally surround by tables filled with italians have noticed that they also seem to be able to follow this same method of eating.... yet when we go out with english people i would say about fifty per cent of them have a lot of difficulty with various things... its either allergies or health considerations or god knows what... is it just people we know or does anyone else that lives here that has visitors from the UK...worse USA .. i would say the percentage rises to 70 per cent with them....... have difficulty with knowing where to take people

now bear with me on this... before you shout rascist or whatever.... but the italians live longer and better than either of the aformentioned populations .... so it seems to me they have it right.... and its all the worrying over what you can eat or cant...should eat or shouldnt that kills you.... so my point is i am trying to help the citizens of those counties realise that they would live longer and better when they do arrive if they just... at least for a couple of days .... sat down and tucked into everything... you'll live longer............. and be much happier...

notice sano i mentioned nothing of your background and if we ever do meet for lunch knowing your interest in food am sure you will not fall into my bad books with fads

sorry for going off a bit... am sure there are people with lots more info about things .... oh yes... pop up to the gran sasso.... prato di tivo area.... snow should have partially melted by then but its a nice hike after you park the car and there are plenty of restaturants up that way.... but not really good ... until you drive down a bit and head towards pietracamella.. or some such name...that has several good restaurants

i can also reccomend a good hotel restatuarant in civitella right in the main square... an old family run place...sort of special...but it is fairly expensive so best for special occaisions ... back on track............[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info Adriatica. I am not particularly fussy about food but draw the line at having to chase it around on the plate (it should at least be dead!).

Would be great to meet up with you and am hoping to be able to swing that if you are free.

Becky - what part of gorgeous Abruzzo will you be knocking about in?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 11:57

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Ita all in the name!

Manoppello of course and at my Geometra's office,DIY shops,Reclaimation Yard,builder's Merchants etc,etc!!!

But I do want to get out and explore and I'm on a mission in Orsogna to track down my Uncle's childhood sweetheart,Domenica whose family housed him in WW2 and stopped the Germans from shooting him.The farmer used to lend these British soldiers his hat and coat so that when they needed to cross the yard to use to loo the Germans thought it was him!!I'm trying to find a hamlet called SALAR ROLA which is where Domenica's house was.My uncle Frank is 86and in bad health but he would love to know what happened to Domenica and her family!

a presto

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 12:58

[QUOTE=adriatica]
i can also reccomend a good hotel restatuarant in civitella right in the main square... an old family run place...sort of special...but it is fairly expensive so best for special occaisions ... back on track............[/QUOTE]

Adriatica
Agree with your suggestion of the Hotel Zunica (if that's the one you mean) in Civitella. Funnily enough, we were there a couple of weeks ago and I have to say, we had the best meal ever in Italy and in the top 5 that we've had anywhere in the world - an eight course creative menu for 38 Euros each where the chef decides on what is served - as you say expensive by Italian standards but still much cheaper than a similar quality meal in UK.

Biagio

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 13:24

my wife knows the owner there... ... a wonderful old style italian hotel in a wonderful setting... and yes thats the one...

they run these special celebration days also ( new years, valentines, etc e..etc) so that you can book your meal and stay at the place overnight...saves driving down the hill... after a long italian meal when its best not to be on the road...

[url]www.hotelzunica.it[/url]

if you apply to get on their mailing list then they will send you out details of their specials...

and the fortress there is pretty special too... and it takes a good day to get around the whole place

biagio...

whats wrong ... you have me agreeing with everything you say

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 02:01

Sano
Sorry can't help on sightseeing etc as we have spent the last 4 months on a building site, still coming to an end now we hope.
Just wanted to say enjoy your trip, we love it here and are taking note of answers to your question for future reference.
Saluti
Dave

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 06:33

I know the Teramo area best but at least once per year, especially when I have guests with me, I end up returning to Pescara to the Museum of the Abruzzi people (Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo). I really like learning about how the people of the area lived 100 years ago. There is also a small folklore museum with in Torricella Sicura, right next to Teramo, but you need to contact the owner in advance before you head that way.
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