<strong>Well-kept secret: </strong>Abruzzo has been largely overlooked in the past, but tourism operators and trailblazers are working hard to turn this around.
Well-kept secret: Abruzzo has been largely overlooked in the past, but tourism operators and trailblazers are working hard to turn this around.
Manuel Santoro
<strong>Lake Barrea: </strong>Abruzzo is home to seven beautiful lakes including Barrea, an artificial lake in the province of L'Aquila.
Lake Barrea: Abruzzo is home to seven beautiful lakes including Barrea, an artificial lake in the province of L'Aquila.
Agnese Gambini
<strong>Abruzzi cuisine:</strong> The region has a long history of pasta making and is home to pasta production houses like Antico Pastificio Rosetano, which makes Verrigni products.
Abruzzi cuisine: The region has a long history of pasta making and is home to pasta production houses like Antico Pastificio Rosetano, which makes Verrigni products.
Verrigni
<strong>World-renowned wine: </strong>Abruzzo is famous for its red Montepulciano d'Abruzzo produced with the Montepulciano grape, distinct from the Sangiovese grape used to make the Tuscan Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Cantina Cerretano, who produce organic and vegan wine varieties, are one of several notable producers in the area.
World-renowned wine: Abruzzo is famous for its red Montepulciano d'Abruzzo produced with the Montepulciano grape, distinct from the Sangiovese grape used to make the Tuscan Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Cantina Cerretano, who produce organic and vegan wine varieties, are one of several notable producers in the area.
Cantina Cerretano
<strong>Majella National Park:</strong> A third of the region is made up of national parks and Majella, located in the provinces of Chieti, Pescara and L'Aquila, is one of the most beautiful.<br />
Majella National Park: A third of the region is made up of national parks and Majella, located in the provinces of Chieti, Pescara and L'Aquila, is one of the most beautiful.
Martin Stiburek / Flickr, Creative Commons
<strong>Rocca Calascio: </strong>Based in the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessani, Rocca Calascio is one of the oldest standing forts in Italy and remains the highest in the country.
Rocca Calascio: Based in the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessani, Rocca Calascio is one of the oldest standing forts in Italy and remains the highest in the country.
Luigi Selmi / Flickr, Creative Commons
<strong>Italian confetti: </strong>Sulmona, in L'Aquila province, is known for its "confetti" (sugared almonds). The streets here are lined in floral creations made up of confectionery.
Italian confetti: Sulmona, in L'Aquila province, is known for its "confetti" (sugared almonds). The streets here are lined in floral creations made up of confectionery.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Top restaurants:</strong> Located within a 16th-century former monastery in Castel di Sangro, Reale is run by chef Niko Romito, who was awarded three Michelin stars in 2013, and his sister.
Top restaurants: Located within a 16th-century former monastery in Castel di Sangro, Reale is run by chef Niko Romito, who was awarded three Michelin stars in 2013, and his sister.
Francesco Fioramonti
<strong>Trabocchi Coast: </strong>This UNESCO World Heritage-protected 70-kilometer coastline stretches from Ortona to San Salvo in Chieti province. It gets its name from old fishing net structures known as trabocchi.
Trabocchi Coast: This UNESCO World Heritage-protected 70-kilometer coastline stretches from Ortona to San Salvo in Chieti province. It gets its name from old fishing net structures known as trabocchi.
Davy Landman / Flickr, Creative Commons
<strong>Hidden gem:</strong> "Abruzzo takes you by surprise," says Sulmona local Katy Gorman."It represents what most people expect from an Italian vacation experience but simply cannot find in the more well-known destinations."
Hidden gem: "Abruzzo takes you by surprise," says Sulmona local Katy Gorman."It represents what most people expect from an Italian vacation experience but simply cannot find in the more well-known destinations."
Agnese Gambini