Wonders between sea and mountains
Where nature is the protagonist
Abruzzo, in addition to its service-rich coastal resorts, offers enchanting landscapes and wild nature worthy of its European reputation. In fact, every year Abruzzo hosts tourists from all over Europe who visit the beautiful national parksto the numerous state and regional reservesbut also to characteristic villages and cities of art.
Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Park
The most famous park is certainly the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Parkestablished in 1991, it is the third largest in Italy, covering 3 regions and 5 different provinces.
There are three mountain groups within it: the Gran Sasso chain, the Monti della Laga and the Monti Gemelli.
The park is home to around 2,300 higher plant species, one fifth of the entire European flora and more than one third of Italy's floristic heritage.
La great biological variety of the park can also be found in the forests that cover about half of the park's territory. different forest typesincluding holm oak, oak, Turkey oak, hornbeam, aspen, chestnut and beech forests.
The park is also home to the Great Fauna including the Abruzzo chamois, the Apennine wolf and the Marsican brown bear.
Salinello Gorge: a postcard from nature
In the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, at the foot of the Monti Gemelli, there are the beautiful Salinello Gorgebuilt up over time by the flow of the river of the same name.
The Gorge is told visually with the intensity of the colours of the rocks and the rich vegetationIn addition to the many varieties of trees, the landscape is enriched by the delicacy of flowers such as the edelweiss and the beautiful colour tones of the orchids mountain.
With its unfiltered beauty, the Salinello Gorge is ideal for an excursion surrounded by the clear waters that plunge from the high walls, creating wonderful waterfalls, streams and lakes. The more experienced will have the opportunity to do canyoningYou will experience the thrill of being completely immersed in nature, savouring, moment by moment, the boundless emotion of an unforgettable experience.
Stiffe Caves: an enchanted place
Le Stiffe Caves are a 'resurgence', i.e. the point where a river returns to the light after an underground stretch; in the case of Stiffe this occurs at the apex of the gorge above the small village of the same name.
As soon as you enter the cave, you will be enveloped in an unusual environmentThe cool temperature and the play of light take the mind back to the past, while the falling drops recreate the phenomenon that gave shape to the singular stalactites e stalagmites. The view concentrates on the water foaming against the path beneath your feet, and the river acts as a sound guide from the entrance to the cave, hiding just enough for a few moments of silence, before returning to perform with all its power, rushing down with a splendid waterfall.
In the vicinity of the cave you can admire one of the most beautiful corners of Abruzzo.On one side is the L'Aquila basin, dominated by the imposing Gran Sasso mountain range; on the other, the view climbs up the rocky wall above the entrance to the cave and loses itself in the flourishing vegetation of the gorge, crossed by perfectly passable paths.
Pescara: in the footsteps of Gabriele D'Annunzio
Discover Pescara, the regional capital, also known as the 'City of the Vate', or of the great poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, where culture and nature merge in the streets of the historic centre and natural oases on the Pescara coast.
The first stage is undoubtedly its house, transformed into a museumIt contains documents and many other objects that belonged to the poet, all set in a 19th-century atmosphere of opulence.
Enjoy pleasant moments of relaxation with a walk in the green of the Pineta D'Annunziana Nature Reserve. The reserve is one of the green lungs of the region, with many paths that weave through incredible natural beauty. An ideal place to spend a few hours of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can jog, play with your children or go cycling. There is also a lake within the reserve, home to turtles, swans and ducks, and the former factory of Aurum, an ancient Abruzzo liqueur.
Atri: between gullies and art
Atri is an open-air museum forged by time. It is a town known for its badlandsalso known as 'Bolge d'Dante', or particular hills characterised by accentuated erosion phenomena produced by water flowing over clayey rocks.
Throughout the summer, through a guided tourYou can discover this spectacle that nature has created over millions of years and which today is an ideal habitat for many species of flora and fauna.
Art lovers, Atri is also full of wonders for you: why not make your visit to the town unforgettable with the magic that only the night can give? Don't miss the organised walks to discover monuments, period buildings and contemporary exhibitions, in the coolness that only the queen of the Abruzzo hills can provide. You will experience an evening in the name of art, history and culture in a sparkling and lively atmosphere, with events and shows to enliven the evening.