Hotels in Abruzzo, Italy

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Rural Hotel

Abruzzo

This essentially hilly and mountainous region stretches from the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea and takes in landscapes of rugged beauty. Its peaks often surpass the 2,000 metre mark and here, in this part of the Adriatic, the long sandy expanses give way to steep and rocky coasts.

There are wide amphitheatres near L’Aquila and Sulmona and in the dried hydrographic basin of the Fucino. Geological karst formations with grottoes and “Doline” are present.

The national park of Abruzzo, in the western part of the region, harbours numerous animal species, such as the Marsican Bear and the Gray Wolf.

History Abruzzo may be located in central Italy, but its history has been indelibly linked to the south. Traditionally an isolated region, due in part to the unyielding landscapes, its early history was dominated by the Roman Empire which had conquered it by the third century BC.

After the decline of the Roman Empire it was divided up into a number of small feudal states. By the 12th century, however, it had been conquered by the Normans and came under the sphere of the Kingdom of Sicily.

By the 19th century, the area had turned into a hotbed of liberal leaning revolutionary activity and by 1860 it had been absorbed as part of a united Italy. In 1963 Abruzzi and Molisse were split into two distinct regions.

Culture The region is rich in remains of the Roman civilization, which can be found at Minternum near L’Aquila, Alba Fucens, Iuvanum a Montenerodomo. Art saw its most creative period during the Middle Ages. Noteworthy cathedrals and abbeys, with a patent local imprint, were erected between the eleventh and the nineteenth century.

The most important example is Santa Maria di Collemaggio, in L’Aquila. Sculpture attained a special development. An important and typical goldsmith's craft, which produced splendid objects, dates back to the sixteenth century. Precious Renaissance examples can be found in Sulmona and L’Aquila. In L’Aquila, one can visit the National Museum of Abruzzi, with sections for paleontology, archaeology and medieval art (painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, lace, sacred ornaments, glass windows).

Pescara has the Museum of the Folk Traditions of Abruzzo, which holds a didactic archaeologic exhibition.

The Pinacoteca Civica in Teramo displays beautiful majolicas.

Chieti’s National Museum of Antiquities houses important relics of the ancient Italics, Greeks and Romans, including some remarkable pieces.

Gastronomy Abruzzo’s geographical attributes certainly played a major role in the development of its cuisine. Perhaps more than any other region in Italy, Abruzzi has best managed to maintain its gastronomic independence. The end result is a basic family orientated cuisine using the simple ingredients and the ubiquitous olive oil.