The mountains press against Pacentro to the point of reducing its horizon, but in compensation they shelter the Borgo from the fury of the winds. The woods oxygenate the air and water gushes fresh water from the numerous springs of the Maiella. To the west, the sky over Pacentro widens, and the view sweeps over the Peligna Valley. At the summit of...

It’s one of Italy’s hidden treasures. Known as “strong and kind,” the stunningly beautiful region of Abruzzo might be considered off the beaten path for many travelers to the Bel Paese; however, this week’s guest, Michelle DiBenedetto, is here to explain why this undiscovered region should be at the top of your “must-see” list. Michelle is the owne...

Cocullo is a small, picturesque village located in the heart of the Apennine Mountains in the L’Aquila province of Abruzzo. Usually, life goes on quietly, following the gentle and ancient rhythm of nature all year, but things get more exciting every May, when Cocullo’s famous Festa dei Serpari, or feast of the snake handlers, takes place.   The vil...

Along Italy’s Adriatic coast, you’ll find a unique seaside construction, the trabocchi (or trabucchi): they are a traditional type of fishing machine, popular in the regions of Molise, Puglia, and especially Abruzzo, specifically along the Costa dei Trabocchi, a stretch of coastline between Ortona and Vasto. These traditional fishing machines are p...

Michele Leone was born on June 8, 1909, to Giovanni and Anna Leone in Pettorano sul Gizio, (population 1,376 in the 2015 Census) which is a town along the Gizio River just south of Sulmona in the province of L’Aquila in the region of Abruzzo. Despite his parents’ disapproval, he began wrestling at an early age under the tutelage of his uncle, Miche...

Seeing that we’re creeping into May after this weekend I’m going to get a head start into my features for the month of May which is covering the wines of Abruzzo and Marche wine regions. This week I’m starting with the wines known as Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo and will feature a Cerasuolo from Cantina Tollo in Abruzzo. Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo is is one of Ita...

In Abruzzo, Italy, lies a small village by the name of Anversa degli Abruzzi. And when I say small, I mean it—just over 300 people inhabit the mountainside town overlooking the Saggitario Gorge. Livestock roams in the mountains of this eye-catching denomination.  A family in this village—the Marcellis—herd sheep and goats for the purpose of making...

The picturesque small town of Roccaraso is located in the province of L’Aquila. It has approximately 1,524 inhabitants, known as Roccolani. The town, in the Alto Sangro ski area, is the largest ski resort in the central Apennines, 195 kilometers from Rome. It is among the most renowned mountain resorts in central and southern Italy, and it offers t...

Snakes evoke an almost universal awe—a mix of mesmerizing enchantment, visceral repulsion, and morbid fascination. Throughout the millennia cultures have attributed supernatural properties to serpents and devised complex ophidian cults to honor them. There was a time when snake rituals were common across Europe, but now they have mostly disappeared...

We’re passionate about sustainable travel in Italy… and what better place to travel green than in Abruzzo, Italy’s “greenest” region? Filled with miles of unspoiled parks and countryside, the southern region of Abruzzo offers tons of green travel options. And, of course, green travel isn’t just about reducing the carbon footprint while on vacation—...