Situated halfway down the eastern side of the Italian boot, Abruzzo is lapped on one side by the warm Adriatic and lifted high on the other by the Apennines. In between, the space is filled with lush green hills and valleys, many cradling charming old villages and small towns. This is a wild and unspoilt Italian region, a full third of it protected as National Parkland. If you love the great outdoors, and if you love the idea of being able to swim in the morning and ski in the afternoon, then Abruzzo is a region for you.
Abruzzo is thinly populated, hence its space and serenity, but it’s not remote or inaccessible. The region has good roads and transport connections, and is easily reached via direct flights from the UK. In Abruzzo you can ‘get away from it all’ without feeling cut-off or isolated. You won’t feel lonely, either. Small-town and village communities in Abruzzo are very warm and welcoming. People help their neighbours and newcomers are quickly embraced into the community. Abruzzo’s crime rate is very low, the pace of life is slow and gentle, and there’s always time to stop and chat.
Abruzzo might not have quite the historical significance, elegant architecture or art treasures of central Italian regions such as Tuscany and Umbria, and it might lack the slick, sophisticated air of northern Italy, but it has a raw, uncultivated beauty all its own. This is a thoroughly appealing place with pristine natural spaces and minimal summer crowding. A lesser-known region of a wellvisited country, Abruzzo offers a sense of exploration and discovery. And some very, very attractive property prices.
