Walking in the mountains or lounging on the beach? Have it all on holiday in Abruzzo

Dramatic mountains, ancient forests and sandy beaches; where in the world can you find such diversity? lastminute.com has the answer. Abruzzo in Italy has stunning natural landscapes, punctuated with picturesque towns and imposing castles. Hosting a way of life not changed for centuries you’re guaranteed a piece of true, rustic Italia. Despite its peaceful exterior, Abruzzo is extremely close to Rome, with some of its cities are a mere 50 miles away – very convenient for transfers or a quick day trip to Italy’s capital. Stuffed with history, good food and stunning natural beauty, Abruzzo could be the perfect romantic break or peaceful family holiday.

Waterfall in a cave, bear in the forest, wild mushroom in your pasta; Abruzzo is a different kind of Italy

The beaches in Abruzzo are on the east coast. The flat, sandy beaches extend into the Adriatic and are warm, safe and fun places for the entire family.

There have been many stories of Abruzzo being an ancient centre for magic, and it’s easy to understand why. Windswept, solitary countryside and isolated mediaeval villages exude a delicious mix of picturesque charm and tantalising ‘what if?’ factor. L’Aquila and Sulmona are two of the best examples of medieval style, with Sulmona being under three hours from Rome. There are six trains a day and they offer a fantastic opportunity to take a leisurely tour across the mountains from the comfort of a padded seat. To get up close and personal with the scenery, there are three natural parks in or crossing into Abruzzo. Many of these parks provide homes for golden eagles, wild boar, wolves and even bears! It’s a nature lover’s paradise.

Vileno-Sirente Regional Park is particularly stand out due to an underground river which sightseers can follow. Descend into the region’s numerous caves and check out the giant stalactites, stalagmites and beautiful underground waterfalls. All the features of the river are highlighted for visitors so you won’t miss anything, and on emerging to daylight you come face to face with a huge waterfall. It’s a great photo opportunity and educational experience for the kids. The best times to go are in July and August; however in the winter months of December to February are closed to the public.

Italy is known worldwide for its delicious cuisine. Abruzzo has a great range of authentic, rustic dishes which are unique to the area. Expect to find a lot of pasta dishes, with wild mushrooms, tangy homemade goat’s cheese and wild boar. Very often the food is seasonal, which gives a real insight into how the southern Italians live. Restaurants are usually of the trattoria variety, which means casual, laid back and modest but plentiful food.

Nightlife in Abruzzo is very laid back. There’s an anything goes atmosphere in most places you can visit; don’t worry about dress code. You can try an outdoor disco one night, with plentiful top 40 tracks, or an ‘authentic’ Irish pub, although we’re not sure what that means beyond a nice pint of Guinness! There’s fun to be had after dark on holiday in Abruzzo but don’t go out expecting to rave every night.

Look out for holidays in Abruzzo

A holiday in Abruzzo is a nature lover’s dream. With spectacular choice of parks, mountains, beaches and caves there will be a new photo opportunity around every corner. If you’ve done Italy before then try Abruzzo for authentic Italian at its best with lastminute.com.