Abruzzo is a rugged, unspoiled region of central Italy where the Apennine mountains plunge toward the Adriatic Sea. One-third of its territory is protected parkland, sheltering brown bears, Apennine wolves, and golden eagles. Medieval hilltop villages, Roman ruins, saffron fields, and a coastline of blue-flag beaches make this Italy's last great undiscovered destination.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Abruzzo.
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1
Rocca Calascio
Rocca Calascio is a stone hilltop fortress in the Gran Sasso massif, built up from an earlier watchtower into the walled keep and four corner towers visible today. It sits above 1,400 metres, which made it one of the highest fortifications in the Apennines and a lookout post over the Navelli plain. Most visitors walk the gravel track up from the parking area near the village, then climb through the roofless keep to the wall walk.
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2
Gran Sasso d'Italia & Campo Imperatore
Campo Imperatore is the high plateau below Corno Grande, the tallest peak in the Apennines, and its flat, treeless expanse has earned it the nickname 'Little Tibet' for the way snow and grazing land stretch to the horizon. A cable car from Assergi rises to the plateau, where a network of hiking trails fans out toward the peak and the old Albergo di Campo Imperatore, the hotel where Mussolini was briefly held in 1943. In summer the plateau is used for grazing and shepherd huts; in winter it becomes a ski area.
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3
Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise
This is one of Italy's oldest national parks, established in the early 20th century to protect the beech forests and mountain valleys around Pescasseroli, and it remains the core refuge for the Apennine (Marsican) brown bear population. Marked trails lead from several villages into the Val Fondillo and other valleys, where wolves, chamois, and the bears are present but rarely seen up close. The visitor center in Pescasseroli has a small wildlife museum and enclosures with rescued animals.
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4
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
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5
Scanno and Lago di Scanno
Scanno is a medieval hill town in the Sagittario valley known for its tightly stacked stone houses and narrow alleys that follow the original defensive layout, and it's one of the few Abruzzo villages where older women could still occasionally be seen in the traditional local costume in recent decades. A few kilometres below, Lago di Scanno is a small heart-shaped lake formed by an ancient landslide that dammed the river, with a walking path circling the shore. The two make a natural half-day pairing, town in the morning and lake in the afternoon or vice versa.
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6
Sulmona Old Town and Piazza Garibaldi
Sulmona is the birthplace of the Roman poet Ovid and the historic center of Italy's confetti (sugared almond) industry, with shopfronts along the Corso Ovidio still selling the flower-shaped confetti arrangements the town is known for. Piazza Garibaldi anchors the old town, bordered by the medieval aqueduct arches on one side and hosting a Wednesday and Saturday market. The old town's streets are walkable in a couple of hours, taking in the cathedral and the SS. Annunziata complex facing the square.
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7
Majella National Park
Majella National Park protects the limestone massif east of the Gran Sasso, a landscape of deep gorges, high plateaus, and dozens of hermitages built into cliff faces by monks including the future Pope Celestine V. The Guardiagrele visitor center has a small natural history museum, but the park's real draw is the network of trails through gorges like Valle dell'Orfento and up to the exposed summit ridges. Wolves and golden eagles are present in the park, along with reintroduced chamois.
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8
L'Aquila Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio
This basilica is best known for its facade — a geometric pattern of pink and white local stone in a design unique among Abruzzo's churches — and for the Perdonanza tradition it hosts each August, a papal indulgence rite instituted here by Pope Celestine V in 1294. Celestine, who resigned the papacy after only months, is entombed inside the church. The building suffered serious damage in the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake and underwent a lengthy restoration, reopening the interior to visitors in the years after.
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9
Civitella del Tronto Fortress
This fortress sits on a ridge above the village, built up by the Spanish and later the Kingdom of Naples into one of the largest fortified complexes in Europe. It is best known as the site of the final holdout of Bourbon troops against the new Kingdom of Italy, who kept resisting inside these walls months after the rest of the south had surrendered in 1861. Walking the ramparts takes you along a narrow spine of stone terraces and barracks with the Gran Sasso and the Adriatic both visible depending on which side you look.
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10
Alba Fucens Roman Ruins
Alba Fucens was a Roman colony founded in the early 3rd century BC along the Via Valeria, and what survives today is an open, largely unrestored site rather than a fenced museum - a paved forum area, the remains of a basilica, baths, and an amphitheater set into the hillside. The town lost importance as Rome's road network shifted and was gradually abandoned, which is part of why so much of the street grid is still legible on the ground. It sits below the medieval hill town of Massa d'Albe, with the drained Fucino plain stretching out beyond it.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- National parks are free to enter; only specific museums/visitor centers charge admission, Many mountain attractions close November–March — always verify before driving, Driving is essential for most sites; car rental available at Pescara airport and Pescara train station, ATMs available in L'Aquila, Pescara, Chieti, Avezzano, and Teramo; carry cash for villages, Most restaurants close Monday; churches close during afternoon hours
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to visit Abruzzo's top attractions?
Yes, a car is strongly recommended. Rocca Calascio, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Bominaco, and Campo Imperatore are not reachable by public transport. Pescara, L'Aquila, and Chieti are accessible by train.
Is it safe to hike in the national parks without a guide?
Marked trails in all three national parks are safe for experienced hikers with a map. The CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) provides free trail maps at visitor centers. For off-trail routes or high-altitude Gran Sasso climbs, hire a qualified guide through CAI L'Aquila (+39 0862 24342).
When is the best time to visit Rocca Calascio?
Sunrise in May–June or September offers golden light and few tourists. July–August the site can get crowded by 10 AM. Snow can make the path icy October–April.