Itineraries
- Recommended period: from spring
to autumn, in winter if you want to ski
From the Sea to
Gran Sasso
with the most spectacular section of the
massif, the central one, which is the most suitable for a direct observation of a
succession of layers of vegetation, cultivation and settlings along a relatively
short route. We start from Roseto degli Abruzzi to rise up the Valle del Vomano to the
hydroelectric power plant of San Giacomo. From Roseto we take the state road which skirts
the river Vomano and seems to point directly towards the hinterland, towards the peak of
the Gran Sasso, which appears imposing at the horizon.Along
this road we meet valuable evidence of the Benedictine Monachism in Abruzzo, expressions
of a Cistercian architectonic tradition developed according to peculiar characteristics:
S. Maria di Propezzano, S. Maria di Ronzano, S. Clemente al Vomano, S. Giovanni al Mavone.
Along the route we can stop at Canzano (475 mts), a village which seems stuck to a hill
dominating the valley, with a beautiful view roving from the sea to the Gran Sasso. Here
it is possible to taste the real turkey "Tacchino alla canzanese", a gastronomic
speciality appreciated also abroad.
From the power plant of San Giacomo we drive along the valley of Rio Arno to reach the
skiing resort of Prati di Tivo in the district of Pietracamela.
On the way back we go along the valley of Vomano and rise up the valley of its tributary
stream, the Mavone, for a visit to Castelli. Coming back to the valley of Vomano, from
Villa Vomano onward we can repeat the outward journey.
the
same, but offers wide, sandy shores, high, jagged cliffs, narrow creeks, pebble beaches
and in some places it is positively wild. There are hundreds of locales ready to satisfy
all the needs of the holidaymakers. Whereas the numerous sports facilities, farming
holiday centres, stables and the waterfun parks are there to enrich the seaside holiday
with healthy, enjoyable, physical activities. Arriving in Abruzzo from the north,
Martinsicuro is the first town reached: wide, sandy beaches, good sports facilities, and a
beautiful Tower embellished with renaissance friezes, invite the tourist to a peaceful,
enjoyable stay. Tortoreto Lido follows with its beach adorned with palms and marine pines,
several hotels, campsites, discos, sports centres and a beautiful waterfun park. 
inland. Going along the state road that runs
alongside the Vomano river and goes towards Gran Sasso, it is possible discover the
valuable Benedictine and Cistercian buildings of S. Maria di Propezzano, San Clemente al
Vomano and San Giovanni Mavone.
after Roseto, we find Pineto with its
pinewood right on the beach, a beautiful seafront, and about 40 hotels. Silvi is on the
territorial line between Teramo and Pescara with a 4 kilometre long beach, good hotel
facilities, night clubs and many cultural and sporting enterprises. Very close to
Montesilvano marina, famous for its long sandy shores and its large hotels with facilities
for congresses, there is Marina di Citta S'Angelo with stretches of pebbly beach and rich
in Mediterranean vegetation. 
Francesco Paolo Michetti, who, in
his studio, gave hospitality to artists and intellectuals. Many hotels, private villas and
flats, numerous clubs all create together a good seaside resort.
again, becomes level and Fossacesia, Torino di Sangra and
Casalbordino share the long, sandy shore. At Torino di Sangro it is still possible to see
the dunes that, up to twenty years ago, were a common feature of the Abruzzo coastline.
D'Annunzio in his works. Starting with
Pescara, the native town of the Vate (bard), it is possible to visit the birthplace of the
poet - now a museum - and the Palazzo del Governo (the government building), of interest
only because it houses the magnificent painted canvas of "La Figlia di Jorio"
(Daughter of Iorio) by Francesco Paolo Michetti which inspired D'Annunzio to the
theatrical work of the same name. 
At Francavilla al Mare we
can see the Convento di Michetti where D'Annunzio hid away many a time to devote himself
to his work. Here he wrote "Il Piacere" (The Pleasure) amongst other works. In
the town hall another painting of Michetti, "La Via degli Storpi" (The Cripples'
Route), is preserved; it portrays a famous scene described in D'Annunzio's "Trionfo
della Morte" (Death's Triumph). From Francavilla we aim towards the countryside,
destination Miglianico. Here, in the S. Michele Arcangelo church there is a fresco dating
back to the 1600's of the Madonna tra due Santi that inspired both D'Annunzio and
Michetti; the former to one of his "Novelle della Pescara" (Short Stories of
Pescara) ("La Vergine Orsola" - Orsola the Virgin), and the latter to his
masterpiece "Il Voto" (The Vow). In the same church there is the wooden statue
of S. Pantaleone (XV century), the patron saint of the town, whose Day, celebrated on 26,
27, 28, July gave D'Annunzio the idea for the tale of the same name.
D'Annunzio
went through a brief, but intense, love story with Barbara Leoni who inspired the poet to
"Il Trionfo della Morte" (Death's Triumph) set in one of the inlets along the
coast, which are numerous between San Vito and Fossacesia where, on a hill that overlooks
the sea, there is the stupendous abbey of S. Giovanni in Venere. "Il Trionfo della
Morte" is evoked once again at Casalbordino, at the Santuario della Madonna dei
Miracoli: from 9th to 11th of June it is possible to watch the famous pilgrimage described
by the poet and depicted by Michetti in his painting "La Via degli Storpi". 
begins in Sulmona (403 mts above sea-level), a
town situated in the heart of the Peligna valley. The town, which is well-known as the
birthplace of Ovidio, the poet of love, is known nowadays as being the land of confetti
(there is also a museum of confetti). Its many fine monuments date back, mostly, to the
economic and cultural heyday of the town, during the XIV and XV centuries The Natural
History Museum of the Mountain Community, with its entomological section containing almost
7,000 examples of local insects, is worth a visit. 
narrow streets, many of which contain
the typical fights of steps. In this way you can admire the characteristic women's clothes
of oriental origin that some elcerly women still wear, especially of holiday. And you can
also do some shopping in the goldsmith's shops. After leaving Scanno, the tazir goes
through Villalago and, at the end of the Sagittario Valley, Anversa degli Abruzzi, the
town where D'Annunzio's play "La fiaccola sotto il moggio" is set. After driving
20 more kilometres the trip ends back in Sulmona.
Marina on the Teatina coast, where it is
possible to visit the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, towards Lanciano. From here, going
along the .S.S.363 across land leaning slightly towards the coast and engraved by short
water courses, with sides with steep cliffs you arrive at Guardiagrele.