Centred around the former capital of L’Aquila, Abruzzo and Molise is a historic region along the east coast of Italy. It encompasses charming mountain hamlets, seaside villages and wild natural areas, including the first national park to be established in the Apennines.
Hit the hiking or cycling trails of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, which was established in 1922 as a habitat for Italian wolves, Abruzzo chamois and Marsican brown bears. Climb to the three-peaked summit of Monti della Meta and visit the 12th-century Abbey of Santi Pietro e Paolo, which houses a revered Black Madonna statue.
Abruzzo and Molise is dotted with recreational lakes, such as Lago di Scanno, Lago di Barrea and Lago di Posta Fibren where you can rent boats and swim in the summer months. In the winter, visit the modern ski resort of Pescasseroli, which is famously the birthplace of the Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce.
Getting there
Abruzzo and Molise is around two hours’ drive from the centre of Rome and 2.5 hours from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. Trains connect to several towns throughout the region while having your own vehicle gives you greater freedom to explore.