Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region of southern Italy located in the central part of the country along the Adriatic coast. It borders Marche to the north, Lazio to the west, Molise to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Its capital is L’Aquila, while its largest city by population is Pescara. Other important towns include Chieti and Avezzano.

Geography and natural features: Abruzzo spans part of the central Apennines and a long Adriatic coastline. The mountainous core includes the Gran Sasso d’Italia and Majella ranges, with Corno Grande as the highest peak at 2,912 meters. The region contains two national parks, Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park and Majella National Park, plus several regional parks and nature reserves.

History: The area has been inhabited since ancient times and was part of the Roman world and later the Kingdom of Naples. In the 20th century, Abruzzo and Molise formed a single region until 1963, when Molise became a separate region.

Economy and culture: The economy combines agriculture, light industry, and services, with tourism playing a growing role. Typical products include Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo wines, olive oil, pecorino cheese, and arrosticini. The region is known for its medieval hill towns and festivals, and for distinctive cuisine and crafts.

Tourism: Abruzzo attracts visitors for its national parks, ski resorts on the Apennines, historic towns such as Sulmona (famed for confetti) and L’Aquila, and scenic coastal towns along the Adriatic. The Pescara coastline includes a commercial port and an international airport.