ABRUZZO- The greenest region in Europe, where you can have both the sea with its beautiful beaches and the majestic Majella mountain, sometimes only 90 minutes apart.
In Abruzzo, it’s just how things are. Rugged Apennine peaks rise in the west (with three national parks to explore), then the landscape softens into rolling hills full of vineyards and olive trees before reaching the Adriatic coast in the east. It’s a region that really has it all.
All of our three Abruzzolavanda homes have the amazing Costa dei Trabocchi, on their door steps. These are old wooden fishing platforms stretching out over the water. Many of them have been turned into seafood restaurants, giving the coastline loads of character. You’ll find beaches for every mood here — small and quiet, or long and sandy. Want a classic Italian beach club with loungers and a long lunch? Easy. Prefer a peaceful spot in a nature reserve with a DIY picnic setup? The beaches really cater for all, the long sandy beaches of Le Morge or Petacciato to the pebbly beaches of Punta Aderci with its driftwood shelters to Punte Penne near the port of Vasto.
When you’re not swimming or relaxing, there’s plenty to do. You can walk or cycle along the coastal path built on the old railway line (bike rentals are everywhere). Nearby Vasto is well worth a visit — a lively town with great food, nice shops and fun summer evenings. Head inland and you’ll find proper Italian countryside: green fields, hilltop villages and always a bar close by. This is wine country too, so stopping at a local winery for a tasting is pretty much a must — think Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, crisp Pecorino and fresh Cerasuolo rosé. The cooperative Cantinas of San Nicola in Pollutri and Cantina Villese of Villalfonsina are your locals.
And if you feel like heading for the mountains, Majella National Park is less than an hour away. Expect hiking trails, gorges, waterfalls, ancient villages and castles perched on peaks. You might stumble across a hidden cave or an old sanctuary — and the views are always worth it
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