Why is Abruzzo called Italy's best kept secret?

Because despite being right next door to Rome — less than two hours away — Abruzzo remains almost invisible on the international tourism map. Less than 3% of foreign visitors to Italy make it here. Those who do rarely leave without wanting to come back.

What is Abruzzo famous for?

Abruzzo is known as the greenest region in Europe, with three national parks covering more than a third of its territory. It is home to some of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, the Costa dei Trabocchi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine and arrosticini.

Is Abruzzo better than Tuscany?

It depends on what you are looking for. For authenticity, value for money and unspoiled nature — Abruzzo wins. For world-famous art cities and rolling vineyard estates — a different experience entirely. For travellers tired of the obvious, Abruzzo is the answer.

What is the best time to visit Abruzzo?

Abruzzo is a year-round destination. In summer you have the beaches and the mountains. In autumn the harvest festivals and the colours. In winter the ski resorts of Campo Imperatore and Passo Lanciano. In spring the blooming national parks. The summer months are the busiest — but every season has something extraordinary to offer.

Is Abruzzo expensive?

Abruzzo is one of the most affordable regions in Italy. Compared to Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast, prices for accommodation, food and activities are significantly lower. It delivers exceptional value for money.

What is The City Next Door?

The City Next Door is the go-to English guide to travel, food and wine in Abruzzo, Italy. Written by Armando and Idania — two Venezuelans with roots in the region, living in London — every post is based on firsthand experience. No sponsored content. No guesswork. Writing about Abruzzo since 2020.

Who writes The City Next Door?

Armando and Idania. Armando grew up spending summers in Abruzzo, lived there at 16, studied in Chieti and Pescara and considers it home. Idania brings the eye for detail and the love for authentic experiences. Together they have been writing about Abruzzo since 2020.

Is the content on The City Next Door sponsored?

Never. Every post on this blog is based on firsthand experience. We have eaten in the restaurants we review, visited the beaches we recommend and stayed in the places we write about. We have never accepted payment for a review and we never will.

What does The City Next Door mean?

Abruzzo sits right next door to Rome — one of the most visited cities in the world — and yet remains completely off the tourist map. The name is an invitation to discover a place that has been hiding in plain sight.

ABUZZO TRAVEL GUIDE

ABRUZZO TRAVEL GUIDE

Planning a trip to Abruzzo? This is where to start. From the best beaches on the Adriatic to a dinner over the sea on a trabocco, from cycling the Via Verde to sleeping in a vineyard — these are the experiences we recommend most, based on firsthand visits and genuine enthusiasm for a region we know well.

No sponsored content. No guesswork. Just honest recommendations from people who keep coming back.

This is your honest guide to the basics. Everything you need to know before you visit.

The Beaches

Abruzzo’s Adriatic coastline is one of the most underrated in Italy. Long stretches of sandy beach, hidden coves and crystal clear water — without the crowds of Rimini or the prices of the Amalfi Coast.

Our favourite spots include Ripari di Giobbe in Ortona, Calata Turchino on the Via Verde and Punta Aderci near Vasto — a protected nature reserve with extraordinary views. Read our full guide to the best beaches in Abruzzo →

The Trabocchi Coast

The Costa dei Trabocchi is one of Abruzzo’s most extraordinary experiences. Ancient wooden fishing platforms built over the Adriatic Sea, now converted into restaurants where you eat literally over the water at sunset.

We visited Trabocco Punta Cavalluccio twice — both times at sunset, both times with the full tasting menu of 11 courses and a bottle of Abruzzo rosé. It is one of those experiences that is genuinely difficult to describe and very easy to recommend. Read our full review →

Outdoor Activities

Abruzzo is the greenest region in Europe for a reason. Three national parks, the Gran Sasso, La Maiella and the Sirente-Velino, cover more than a third of its territory and offer extraordinary opportunities for hiking, cycling, kayaking and horse riding.

We have cycled the Via Verde from Ortona to Torino di Sangro, stopping at Calata Turchino with the sea beside us the entire way. We have trekked La Maielletta and walked the plateau of Campo Imperatore. Abruzzo rewards every level of outdoor enthusiast. Read our guide to conscious travel in Abruzzo →

Wine & Food Experiences

Abruzzo’s food and wine tradition is one of the most authentic in Italy. And the best way to experience it is not in a restaurant — it is at the source.

Feudo Antico in Tollo is one of the most extraordinary wineries we have visited — Montepulciano d’Abruzzo produced with extraordinary attention to the land, with on-site accommodation that lets you wake up surrounded by the vines. Read our visit to Feudo Antico →

La Vineria di Salnitro near Guardiagrele is another essential stop — a tiny restaurant with an extraordinary wine list and a kitchen that treats local ingredients with real respect. Read our full review →

Spirituality & Silence

Abruzzo has a quiet spiritual tradition that most visitors never discover. Hidden hermitages carved into cliff faces, mountain sanctuaries reached by ancient pilgrim paths and small Romanesque churches that have stood for nearly a thousand years — the region offers a depth of contemplative experience that is rare in modern Italy.

The Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere near Fossacesia is one of those places that stops you in your tracks. A Benedictine abbey built in the 12th century on the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Venus, perched above the Adriatic with views that stretch as far as the eye can see. We visited on a quiet afternoon and the stillness was unlike anything we had experienced before — the kind of peace that is increasingly difficult to find anywhere in Europe.

The Eremo di Santo Spirito a Majella, built into the rock face of the Maiella massif at over 1,000 metres, was a retreat for Pope Celestine V in the 13th century and is another extraordinary destination for those willing to make the hike.

Abruzzo rewards the curious and the unhurried. Its spiritual places are not on the tourist trail — and that is precisely what makes them so special.

Where to Stay

Abruzzo has some extraordinary accommodation options that go well beyond the standard hotel.

Cirelli Farm Glamping in Treciminieri, Teramo offers two wooden cabins built directly in front of the vineyards of the Francesco Cirelli farm. Wine from terracotta amphoras, breakfast delivered to your cabin and extraordinary green countryside in every direction. Read our visit to Cirelli Farm →

Panfilo Farmhouse in Cellino Attanasio is a beautifully restored Italian stone farmhouse between the sea and the mountains, with a saltwater infinity pool, hot tub under the stars and farm-fresh breakfast. The kind of place that makes you want to extend your stay. Visit Panfilo Farmhouse →

Before You Go

Everything you need to know before you visit Abruzzo — where it is, how to get there, when to go, what to eat and where to stay — is in our Abruzzo Essentials guide. It is the best place to start if you are planning your first trip to the region.

Read Abruzzo Essentials →

FAQ

How many days do I need to visit Abruzzo?

We recommend a minimum of five to seven days to experience Abruzzo properly. Three days is enough for a quick introduction — the coast, one or two villages and a good meal. But to combine the mountains, the beaches, the borghi and the food and wine experiences, a week is ideal.

Do I need a car to visit Abruzzo?

Yes — a car is essential for exploring Abruzzo beyond the main cities. Trains and buses connect Pescara, Chieti, Teramo and L’Aquila, but most of the region’s best experiences — the villages, the national parks, the trabocchi coast and the wineries — are only accessible by car. Car hire is available at Pescara Airport and in all major cities.

Is Abruzzo safe for tourists?

Abruzzo is one of the safest regions in Italy. Crime rates are low, the people are welcoming and the region has no significant safety concerns for tourists. Standard common sense applies as anywhere — keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas and take sensible precautions in the mountains.

What is the best month to visit Abruzzo?

June and September are the sweet spot — warm enough for beaches, comfortable for hiking and less crowded than July and August. Spring is beautiful for the national parks and villages. Winter is ideal for skiing around Passo Lanciano and Campo Imperatore.

Do people speak English in Abruzzo?

English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels and restaurants, but less so in smaller villages and rural areas. A few words of Italian go a long way and are always warmly appreciated. In our experience, Abruzzese hospitality more than compensates for any language barrier.

Is Abruzzo worth visiting?

Without hesitation. Abruzzo offers everything that makes Italy extraordinary — food, wine, history, nature and genuine warmth — without the crowds, the queues or the prices of more famous destinations. It is one of the most authentic and underrated regions in all of Italy. We keep coming back, and we think you will too.