Abruzzo, the Land that framed Italy

Abruzzo is a mountain region of central-southern Italy that merges natural beauties along with a rich historical and artistic tradition. The region, whose chief town is L’Aquila, has 1,300,000 inhabitants and includes hills and mountains of the Apennines (National Park “Del Gran Sasso e della Maiella”) as well as many sky resorts.

Its economy is predominantly based on farming, fishing and some tertiary (tourism and commerce) and has been developing more in certain areas, leaving the others with a retardation in communication and transport.

In ancient times Abruzzo was settled by various ethnic groups – Equi, Piceni, Sanniti and many others – who ganged up in the year 89 B.C. in the “Italic League” in order to obtain the Roman Citizenship. It was the first time in history that the word “Italy” was used under a political meaning. In the region there are still many different dialects, such as “Sabino” (spoken in L’Aquila), Adriatic and western “Abruzzese” that oftentimes cross each other with dialects from the surrounding regions.

L’Aquila is situated 700 m. on sea level. It was founded by Frederick II of Swabia around 1230 A.D. according to an organic town planning based on previous villages (99 as for the tradition), which became later as many quarters. With its strong historical values, the city is today the Host for many cultural and film festivals.

Pescara, city of Gabriele D’Annunzio, faces the Adriatic coast, at the outfall of the homonymous river. Completely rebuilt after WWII, it leaves no traces of its obscure past.

Chieti (330 m. on sea level) is one of the most ancient Italian cities.

Sulmona, another beautiful art city, gave birth to Ovidius. Giulianova, in its turn, is a prefect sample of a Reinassance town planning. The city of Atri is worth to be mentioned too, whose name was given to the Adriatic Sea.

Besides to the Bard D’Annunzio, Abruzzo gave birth to many other Italian renowned literates and intellectuals, such as Benedetto Croce, Ignazio Silone and Ennio Flaiano.