Abruzzo & Molise
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Abruzzo & Molise
Why Go? Parco Nazionale del A stunning mountain region little known to foreign visi- Gran Sasso e Monti tors, Abruzzo is an area of unspoiled natural beauty and della Laga...... 624 back-country charm. Only an hour from Rome, it feels like Sulmona...... 624 a world apart with its great Apennine peaks, still, silent val- Parco Nazionale leys and pretty hilltop towns. To the south, Molise offers della Majella...... 627 more of the same, albeit on a smaller, less dramatic scale. Scanno...... 628 The landscape is extraordinary. In the region’s three nation- al parks, thick forests and flowering meadows give way to high Parco Nazionale barren plains and snowcapped granite peaks, and wolves and d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise...... 630 bears roam free in the vast beech woods. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, it offers wonderful hiking, skiing and mountain Pescara...... 631 biking, while the coast boasts beautiful sandy beaches. Chieti...... 633 Across this verdant landscape, there’s a string of cultural Vasto...... 634 gems to discover. Pescocostanzo’s baroque centre and Sul- Campobasso...... 634 mona’s historic palazzi (mansions) testify to past glories, Saepinum...... 635 while isolation has ensured the survival of age-old customs such as Cocullo’s bizarre snake charmers’ procession. Isernia...... 635 Termoli...... 636 Albanian Towns...... 637 When to Go L’Aquila °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm Best Places to Eat 30/86 8/200
¨¨Locanda Sotto gli Archi 20/68 6/150 (p625) 10/50 4/100 ¨¨Hosteria dell’Arco (p626) ¨¨Ristorante Clemente (p626) 0/32 2/50
¨¨Ristorante da Paolino (p628) -10/14 0 J F DNOSAJJMAM
May Cocullo’s Jul Sulmona’s May, Jun & Sep Best Places to Stay unique snake square fills with Wildflowers, ¨¨Sextantio (p625) festival involves prancing horses pleasant summer a statue, proces- and jousting dur- sun – perfect ¨¨Locanda Alfieri (p636) sion and writhing ing this medieval conditions for ¨¨Le Torri Hotel (p628) nest of snakes. tournament. hiking. #\ #\ 2 # #] Penne #\ Cassino #\ #\ #\ Abruzzi Sulmona Civitella # ÷ Alfedena Lago di Scanno #\ 6
d'Abruzzo, # #\ Roseto degli
R Lazio e Molise #\ Opi D Scanno Parco Nazionale R Giulianova #\
Monte Cocullo Tronto (1841m) Popoli Monte Tranquillo Gole di Cassino (1669m) SS83 / ¼ Sagittario Teramo Rocca Calascio Pescasseroli Campo Imperatore (2117m) # ^ Plain Navelli #\ 7 3 #\ # # Ancona (88km); A24 ABRUZZO / ¼ Ravenna (226km) Sora Celano Santo #\ 4 R # ^ Ovindoli # Fonte Cerreto Sessanio #\ Stefano di #\ Ascoli Piceno #\ Avezzano # ÷ LAZIO Felice #] Campo (2912m) LE MARCHE Parco Nazionale Assergi del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga Frosinone # ^ # ^ Corno Grande L'Aquila A24 SS5 / ¼ / ¼ A25 / ¼ SS4 / ¼ # ÷ SS4 / ¼ Sibillini dei Monti Carsoli LAZIO
\ # Parco Nazionale D UMBRIA Rome (45km)
Driving through through Driving Marvelling at Marvelling Spending a night Spending a night Breathing in the in Breathing Feeling the call of of the call Feeling Travelling back back Travelling Driving or hiking Driving
in time as you walk walk you in time as the ancient through of town Roman (p635). Saepinum the high windswept windswept the high Campo of plateau ), (p624 Imperatore Tibet’. ‘Little Italy’s 7 6 5 4 3 2
Highlights 1 Abruzzo & Molise pure mountain air mountain pure Pescocostanzo of one of (p627), hidden Abruzzo’s jewels. the breathtaking Gole the breathtaking (p628) di Sagittario Sulmona between and Scanno. the many imposing imposing the many such castles, hilltop Calascio as Rocca ). (p624 in the village of of village in the Alfedena Civitella where ), (p630 wolves bears, inhabit and lynx the surrounding mountains. the wild as you climb you wild as the Grande the Corno the summit of ), (p624 and the Sasso Gran highest Apennines’ peak. &is Mol e Highlights
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