Arrosticini are a mainstay of many mountain villages, too – make a pilgrimage to Farindola and Lu Strego, a trattoria whose version has more than once been acclaimed the best in the Abruzzo.
Wine-wise, no-one is going to Abruzzo to tour the region’s vineyards – for the most part the mountains aren’t conducive to growing vines – but wherever you go you’ll be able to drink Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a more-than-decent red that you’ll probably have come across at home. Trebbiano is the standard white, while Cerasuolo is a lighter red also made from the Montepulciano grape.
But there is quality. As elsewhere in “lesser” Italian wine regions such as Umbria, the post-war period saw newer, dynamic producers pioneering some now top-notch wines. In particular look for bottles from Pepe and Valentini, along with CantinArte, Annona, Italo Pietrantoj, Cataldi Madonna and Valle Reale.
For more unusual regional drinks, risk a glass of ratafia, a black cherry liqueur; Aurum, a branded orange-scented brandy made in Pescara since 1925; centerbe (literally “one hundred herbs”), made from the mountain herbs of the Maiella; and genziano, made from the root of the gentian.
Getting there
Ryanair flies to Pescara Airport from Stansted. A far greater of options exist if you fly to Rome, from which regional capital L’Aquila is a 90-minute drive.
Staying there
Villa companies on the whole are still feeling their way into Abruzzo – typically a company might only one or two properties in the region – but look at the dedicated Abruzzo Turismo page or properties on the owner-listed Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) site. For more ideas on where to stay, see our guide to the best hotels in Abruzzo.
This story was first published in March 2022 and has been revised and updated.
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