Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Abruzzo & Molise
Why Go?
A stunning mountain region little known to foreign visitors, Abruzzo is an area of un-
spoiled natural beauty and back-country charm. Only an hour from Rome, it feels like a
world apart with its great Apennine peaks, still, silent valleys and pretty hilltop towns. To
the south, Molise offers more of the same, albeit on a smaller, less dramatic scale.
The landscape is extraordinary. In the region's three national parks, thick forests and
flowering meadows give way to high barren plains and snowcapped granite peaks, and
wolves and bears roam free in the vast beech woods. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, it of-
fers wonderful hiking, skiing and mountain biking, while the coast boasts beautiful sandy
beaches.
Across this verdant landscape, there's a string of cultural gems to discover. Pescocost-
anzo's baroque centre and Sulmona's historic
palazzi
(mansions) testify to past glories,
while isolation has ensured the survival of age-old customs such as Cocullo's bizarre snake
charmers' procession.
When to Go
