Posts in category Travel

I had never heard of the town of Manoppello until June 2013 when I met Giulia Scappaticcio at a conference in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, high up in Abruzzo’s mountains, near L’Aquila.

A weekend in Sulmona is not enough. But I reckon even a short time spent there is better than none. I’d been to Sulmona once before and enjoyed its refined, historic centre and relaxed vibe.

A trip to Vulcano, part of Italy’s exotic Aeolian Islands, is no doubt the most comfortable, safe way to grant every adventurous kid’s wish of climbing a vulcano

Why is Sicily’s brave marine boy Nicola di Messina nicknamed Colapesce featured as the cornerstone of L’Aquila’s most famous fountain?

After three weeks in Lanciano, I was a little sad to leave, but also excited to see more of Abruzzo. The still-hot weather drew me to the coast and the ancient city of Vasto.

Visit the central-southern Adriatic Coast and you’ll need to hold on to your hat. During the year ferocious winds frequently batter the shin of ‘the boot’

Have you ever tried cycling in Rome? It’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a shame really, because central Rome is the perfect size for exploring by bike

“You’re best to hire a guide,” said the man from the tourism office. “You can get very lost in Abruzzo National Park.” So, we ignored his advice and, as predicted, got hopelessly off-track.

A book review and giveaway This excellent little book, written by part-time Abruzzo resident Stuart Haines, is subtitled ‘Walks in Italy’s Wildest National Parks’. It has a cover photo of Rocca Calascio’s evocative church of the Madonna della Pietà surrounded by craggy outcrops so you would be safe to assume that it’s a guide for […]

The post Walking in Abruzzo appeared first on Welcome to Sulmona.

Mario decided that I was ready for Sulmona. “I don’t send everybody there,” he said. “But I think you’ll appreciate it. There’s something special about it, and the food is the best in Italy and the people are, well, . . . you’ll see.”