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Search for the town, the city, the area where you want to go and consult the contents of VisitItaly
Search for the town, the city, the area where you want to go and consult the contents of VisitItaly
VISITITALY WHAT TO SEE ABRUZZO

Things to do in Abruzzo Italy – what to see, best cities, attractions and activities.

Welcome to Abruzzo in Italy, one of the most popular vacation destination in the world. If you’are planning to visit Italy for your next trip and you are looking for the best places to visit, here you’ll find tips and suggestions of most popular point of interest and activities not to be missed. Find out what to see in the main cities of art such as L'Aquila and Gran Sasso,Pescara, the city of Gabriele d'Annunzio, the Majella National Park, what to do in a day trip to the sea or in the mountains, what are the villages of Abruzzo more unusual to visit.  Whether you travel by motorbike or camper, or you decide to visit Abruzzo in summer or winter, on a rainy or sunny day, whether you have two or three days available, Visititaly always offers you the right tips for planning a trip. Travelers will appreciate this italian region with his rich historical and artistic heritage, local culture and environment. Discover the monuments, buildings, natural treasures and all the details that characterize Abruzzo and its territory. Share and suggest a place you've visited.

Art and Culture Holidays in Abruzzo

Tower of Cerrano, Pineto, Abruzzo
Tower of Cerrano, Pineto, Abruzzo

An Italian destination which is famed for its love of music, the arts and literature, a trip to the Abruzzo region will appeal to your creative lust.

The landscape is spectacular and stunning to say the least, however the cultural relics that can be found here are incredibly unique and offer a rich dose of Italian heritage to visitors. The architectural might of castles, monasteries, churches and mansions is partially highlighted by the grande interior designs, precious works of art and timeless rural traditions which are still employed by the locals today.

The oldest testimonies describe the region of Abruzzo as being a place with a very strong and refined local identity. This gives light to the fact that much of the architecture and local gems of art are completely unique compared to other parts of Italy. A very spiritual tradition remains abundant here and from the potters to the blacksmiths, the locals are still bound by the same passion, pride and integrity as they were hundreds of years ago.

This region of Italy is synonymous with the music scene and the Pescara Jazz Festival has attracted more than just a few pretty faces. Hugely influential musicians such as Bob Dylan, Woody Herman and Ella Fitzgerald have performed here and this town is also the birthplace of notable faces including Formula One driver Jarno Truli. There are numerous open air museums in the region of Abruzzo too, giving you a real insight into the beauty and magic of the locality.

written by Emilio Aronica - Last update: 01/09/2022

Palena - Museums

Museo Geopaleontologico Alto Aventino

The High Aventine Geopaleontological Museum is located inside the top floor of the Ducal Castle. The structure was opened to the public in 2001, and presents the paleoenvironmental and paleontological aspects of the territory. The Sala Palena is very interesting, where exhibits from the myocenical deposit of Capo di Fiume are exhibited. Currently, the museum exhibition is open to the public and guided tours are also organized by reservation.

Opi - Museums

Museo del Camoscio

The Chamois Museum was created by the National Park Authority of Abruzzo with the participation of the Municipality of Opi. It was opened to the public on 23 June 1992. The gallery is divided into three rooms, the first of which is addressed to the testimonies of the suede. In the second and third rooms, on the other hand, there are objects, documentation, and a screening room, concerning the protected areas throughout Italy. We can also find chamois, which live in a space of almost 20 square meters.

Teramo - Museums

Pinacoteca Civica

The Civic Art Gallery of Teramo is located at the Villa Comunale, in a neoclassical building built between 1868 and 1888. The story talks about several restorations that the Art Gallery has undergone over the years. Inside the building you can admire various works of art starting from the tables of the '400, the paintings of the '600 and '700 to move on to portraits of the 1800s. Obviously, the sculptures of the 800 in plaster and marble by Raffaello Pagliaccetti and those in bronze by Venanzo Crocetti should also be observed.

Sulmona - Museums

Museo Civico

The Civic Museum of Sulmona is located inside the Palazzo dell'Annunziata. It was built in 1500 and covers ten rooms. In the first four rooms we find archaeological objects. Instead, the Art Gallery, located inside the museum, occupies six rooms. All the furniture in the room is very nice with furniture from the period. It houses a large collection of works ranging from the 13th to the 18th century. Among the artists we can certainly mention Giovanni da Sulomna, Giuseppe Simonelli and numerous others of the past centuries. Admission to the museum is free of charge.

Pescara - Museums

Museo Ittico

The Fish Museum of Pescara was founded in the 1950s by Gugliemo Pepe and is located at the Pescara Fish Market. Thanks to the donations of the sea enthusiasts, the Museum grew a lot in a short time. It preserves in its interior finds from the ichthyological world, fishing gear, artifacts of Paleontology, a weightlifting machine, a diver diving boat, etc. to visit absolutely also the hall of pescarese marineria. As a whole, the Museum has 13 rooms that are located inside the former Bourbon barracks.

L'Aquila - Churches and places of worship

Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio

The Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio is an important place of Catholic worship in the city of L'Aquila. Founded in 1287 at the behest of Pietro da Morrone, crowned Pope Celestine V in 1294, it is the most important religious monument in the city. It contains the world's first Holy Door and is home to a unique annual jubilee. The basilica was badly damaged during the 2009 earthquake and is still closed for restoration work that is expected to end in 2016.

San Demetrio Nei Vestini - Caves

Grotte di Stiffe

The Grotte di Stiffe are one of Italy’s most popular kartisque phenomenon. Situated at the apex of the valley of Stiffe and embed in the various vegetation of the Natural Park Sirente-Velino, the cave can be defined a resource, or a cave with a water flow. The river accompanies the visitor long the 700 m tourist-tour and forms in the heart of the cave a spectacular cascade. Nearby you can find a restauration point, a picknick area, a camper area,a playing round, a naturalistic pathes and a souvenir shop and sale of typical products Tel. +39 0862 86142 • Fax +39 0862 86111 • Cell. +39 327 9728914 www.grottestiffe.it • info@grottestiffe.it

Pescara - Theaters

Teatro e Stele Dannunziana Sec.XX

The Stele D'Annunziana is the emblem of the famous Teatro D'Annunzio. It is a concrete monument, erected in the 60s together with the open-air theater, dedicated to Gabriele D'Annunzio. At the time, the project was entrusted to V. Michetti, a very talented artist who finished it in two months. In recent years, the theater and the stelae were put to the attention of the municipality for their state of maintenance. It is currently managed by the Pescaresi Events Authority.

Chieti - Churches and places of worship

Cattedrale San Giustino

The Cathedral was initially dedicated to St. Thomas and at a later time to St. Justin. The building was rebuilt in the '300 and then, in the '700 in which it was almost totally modified. The part of the façade and the right side, however, go back to the '900. The architects who did the work were Bartolomeo di Giacomo and then Antonio da Lodi. The Treasure of the Cathedral houses valuable artifacts, ancient sacred furnishings and works of art.

San Pio delle Camere - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello-Recinto di S.Pio delle Camere

The Castle-Recinto was built in the highest part of the resort. It is one of the most beautiful examples of this type of construction in the area and beyond. It is assumed to have been built around the 12th century. The enclosure has the form of an isosceles triangle, in which a pentagonal tower stands out. It was assumed that the castle was built at different historical moments. Today it is in good condition.

Atri - Museums

Museo Archeologico

The Archaeological Museum of Atri is located in a complex that dates back to the 18th century. The building consists of three rooms, of which the most evocative is the protohistoric room where there are two completely intact prehistoric tombs and which were found in the early 1900s. The room dedicated to the scholar Vincenzo Rosati, houses the archaeological finds he found. The one dedicated to Abruzzo Prehistory and to the female and childish kits of the 6th century BC owes its findings to discoveries in the necropolis.

Bussi sul Tirino - Churches and places of worship

Chiesa S.Maria di Cartignano Sec. XI

The Church of S. Maria di Cartignano dates back to the eleventh century and was built by Benedictine monks. It was a monastery for about three centuries. Then, since it was abandoned, it became the grain of St. Liberator. It has a structure with three naves. This could be said thanks to careful studies and from the remains that we can see. Unfortunately, only parts of the original structure are currently visible.

Avezzano - Museums

Mostra della Civiltà Contadina e Pastorale

Inside the A.R.S.S.A. headquarters in the city of Avezzano is the Casino of Caccia Torlonia, which today houses the Museum of Peasant and Pastoral Civilization. In the Museum, where content and container have equal charm, the arrangement of objects within the display cases does not follow chronological criteria or material affinity, but we have tried to group them according to areas thematic. Admission to the Museum is free of charge.

Chieti - Churches and places of worship

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Tricalle Sec. XV

Santa Maria del Tricalle dates back to the fifteenth century even if it was renovated several times over the years. The last restoration ended in 1946, also being opened to the public. There is a hypothesis that the building was built on the remains of an ancient temple by Diana Trivia. During the 18th century it was used as a church inside a cemetery. It is currently closed most of the time, so it is difficult to visit it.

Chieti - Theaters

Teatro Marrucino Sec XIX

The Teatro di Marrucino was built in honor of Ferdinand I of Bourbon, the ruler of the Two Sicilies in 1818, under the name of Real Teatro San Ferdinando instead of the previous deconsecrated Jesuit church of Saint Ignatius who provoked the indignation of the church. It took the name that we know today after the Unity of Italy and became a witness to great interpretations of artists such as Eleonora Duse, the sisters Irma and Emma Gramatica and many other famous artists including D' Annunzio. The inauguration of the reopening, in 1972, began with an opera season.

Ocre - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello d'Ocre Diroccato

The Castle of Ocre is located in the Province of Aquila. The walls of the castle, whose perimeter would be 470 meters, have been preserved and maintained until today in good condition. The property is located on a hill with an extraordinary view. The origins of the castle are ancient even if you do not know a specific date. A peculiar feature of the castle would be the seven towers. The already existing ruins of the castle were further damaged during the earthquake that struck L'Aquila in 2009.

Ovindoli - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di Santo Iona

The Tower of Santo Iona was built on a hill from the Counts of Celano in the 13th century. The structure, with a circular plan, was divided into two rooms: the lower one, at a height of seven meters, was used as a warehouse, while, the upper part, with an octagonal plan, was destined for the body on guard. At the beginning of its construction, the building had a higher structure, however, the historical events and the earthquake of the year 1915 destroyed part of its construction.

Vasto - Churches and places of worship

Chiesa di Sant'Antonio

The church dates back to 1200 and, according to tradition, was built together with a convent, on the initiative of St. Francis of Assisi dedicating it to the Holy Cross, passing through Vasto on the journey to the sanctuary by St. Michael the Archangel of the Gargano. In 1723 Carlo De Nardis, Prior of the Brotherhood of St. Anthony and a great benefactor of the churches of Vasto, had the church decorated with sculptures and baroque stuccoes, by an unknown Neapolitan artist. The bas-reliefs illustrate biblical episodes, of the life of Our Lady, Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony, or are symbols of some virtues.

Francavilla al Mare - Churches and places of worship

Convento Michetti

The Convent of Santa Maria del Gesù, founded in 1430 by the Friars Minor, is known as the Michetti Convent since in 1883 it hosted the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti as a stable home. He created in it a meeting and meeting center for many exponents of Abruzzo and Italian culture, with the aim of giving life, together with the group of artists, his friends and guests, a sort of community intellectual and creative; Gabriele D'Annunzio were exponents.

Abruzzo: other suggestions for sleeping

Residence Hotel Paradiso - >Villa Rosa di Martinsicuro
Residence Hotel Paradiso
Villa Rosa di Martinsicuro - Via Ugo La Malfa, 14
e-mail www +39861713888
Located near the seaside in Villa Rosa – Martinsicuro in the Abruzzo region, this small coastal resort is ideal for family holidays. The Residence Hotel Paradiso is a small resort comprised of the Hotel, the Residence and the Holiday Flat/Hotel accommodation all submerged amid an oasis of greenery within 200 metres from the beach.

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