Abruzzo – Complete Guide: Parks, Villages, Sea and Outdoor Activities

• Gran Sasso – Campo Imperatore: Sentiero del Centenario, Monte Aquila, Monte Portella and Corno Grande (normal route).
• Majella – Hermitages and peaks: Eremo di San Bartolomeo, the Valle dell’Orfento and the climb to Monte Amaro.
• Sirente-Velino – Plateaus and ridges: the Sirente ridge, Valle Lupara and the Altopiano delle Rocche.
• PNALM – Villages and wildlife: routes between Pescasseroli, Opi, Civitella Alfedena and Lake Barrea.
• Monti della Laga: moderate trails through woods, past waterfalls and with open views.

• Campo Imperatore – Gran Sasso: routes towards Monte Aquila and the Sella di Monte Aquila.
• Altopiano delle Rocche (Rocca di Mezzo – Ovindoli): easy routes, suitable for families and beginners.
• Pescocostanzo – Bosco di Sant’Antonio: a monumental beech forest with a fairy-tale feel.
• Majella – Valle dell’Orfento and Colle della Civita: wilder, more technical routes.
• PNALM – Opi, Civitella Alfedena, Barrea: routes inside the Park with a chance of spotting wildlife.

All snowshoe routes

• Gran Sasso – Campo Imperatore: Monte Aquila, Monte Portella, Vallone delle Cornacchie.
• Majella – Monte Amaro: gullies and technical slopes for expert skiers.
• Sirente – north face: wild, little-frequented routes.
• Velino – Valle Majelama: a long ascent for fit skiers (Rifugio Sebastiani).
• Monti della Laga: broad slopes and snowy woods.

Ski mountaineering guide

• Gran Sasso – Corno Piccolo: multi-pitch routes and technical slabs; base at Prati di Tivo.
• Pennapiedimonte – Majella: vertical and overhanging sectors.
• Rocca Calascio: classic limestone routes of moderate difficulty.
• Roccamorice: technical routes on sculpted limestone, with sectors for all levels.
• Monti della Laga: sandstone climbing in a wild setting.
• PNALM – Barrea: bolted crags for sport climbing.

• Official MTB routes in the parks: Gran Sasso, Majella and Sirente-Velino on one map, with GPX and difficulty.
• Costa dei Trabocchi – Ciclovia Adriatica: a scenic route along the sea (details).
• Altopiano delle Rocche: dirt-road loops and singletrack, intermediate level.
• Campo Imperatore: high-altitude routes for experienced riders.
• Majella – Valle dell’Orfento and Caramanico: wild, technical routes.
• PNALM – Barrea, Civitella Alfedena, Villetta Barrea: loops through woods and past lakes.
• Monti della Laga: long, flowing dirt roads, also suitable for e-MTBs.

• L’Aquila: Collemaggio, the 99 Cannelle fountain and a reborn historic centre.
• Sulmona: medieval aqueduct, sugared almonds (confetti) and the slopes of Roccaraso and Campo di Giove less than an hour away.
• Avezzano: gateway to the Marsica, half an hour from the Ovindoli slopes and below Monte Velino.
• Scanno: a heart-shaped lake and photogenic lanes.
• Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Calascio and Castel del Monte: the villages of the Gran Sasso.
• Castelli: the capital of ceramics.
• Civitella del Tronto: one of the largest Bourbon fortresses in Europe.
• Guardiagrele: a capital of craftsmanship and gateway to the Majella.
• Roccaraso (1,236 m), Rivisondoli (1,320 m) and Pescocostanzo (1,395 m): the high plateaus, with skiing, snowshoeing and art villages.
• Castel di Sangro (805 m): basilica, Aufidena museum and fly fishing on the Sangro.

Villages and attractions

• Costa dei Trabocchi: cycle path, coves and restaurants on the trabocchi fishing platforms.
• Vasto: Punta Aderci and the historic centre.
• Pineto: pine forest, Torre Cerrano and calm waters.
• Pescara: seafront, museums and nightlife.
• Kayaking, SUP and snorkelling: the coves of the Costa dei Trabocchi, Punta Aderci, Ripari di Giobbe.
• Beach trekking: between Vasto, San Vito Chietino and Ortona, ideal in spring and autumn.

Guide to the coast

• Lake Scanno: Abruzzo’s most famous lake, shaped like a heart.
• Lake Barrea (PNALM): between Barrea, Civitella Alfedena and Villetta Barrea.
• Lake Campotosto: at the foot of the Gran Sasso, great for mountain biking and photography.
• Lago di Pietranzoni: the “mirror of the Gran Sasso” at Campo Imperatore.
• Lago Vivo (PNALM): a seasonal natural lake reachable on foot from Barrea.
• Lago di Sinizzo: not for swimming, with shallow shores; family-friendly.
• Lago di San Domenico: clear waters and the hermitage of San Domenico.

• Zompo lo Schioppo (Morino): waterfall, trails and wildlife area.
• Gole del Sagittario (Anversa degli Abruzzi): canyon and protected wildlife.
• Sorgenti del Pescara (Popoli): turquoise waters and birdwatching.
• Lago di Penne: WWF oasis with a visitor centre.
• Punta Aderci (Vasto): coastal trekking.
• Calanchi di Atri: a unique lunar landscape of badlands.
• Cascate del Rio Verde (Borrello): among the highest natural waterfalls in the Apennines.

All reserves: profiles, map and contacts

• Marsican brown bear: symbol of the PNALM and one of the rarest species in Europe.
• Apennine wolf and Abruzzo chamois, which can be seen in the PNALM and on the Majella.
• Red deer, roe deer and golden eagles in the woods and on the mountain walls.
• Ancient beech forests: some are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Campo Imperatore grasslands: endemic species and spring wildflowers.

Arrosticini, spaghetti alla chitarra, pecora alla callara, brodetto di pesce, confetti di Sulmona, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Pecorino and Trebbiano.

Typical Abruzzo food

• Area: about 10,800 km², between the central Apennines and the Adriatic Sea.
• Mountains: Gran Sasso (Corno Grande 2912 m), Majella (Monte Amaro 2793 m), Sirente-Velino.
• Plateaus: Campo Imperatore, Altopiano delle Rocche, Piani di Pezza, Campo Felice.
• Coast: over 130 km of coastline.
• Protected areas: 3 national parks, 1 regional park and dozens of nature reserves.