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Around Abruzzo

Abruzzo is situated in central Italy bordering Lazio to the west and with a long Adriatic coastline to the east. It contains the provinces of Chieti, L'Aquila (also the name of the capital city), Pescara and Teramo, and used to include Molise to the south, which became an independent region in 1963. The region covers an area of 10,794 sq km (4,168 sq miles). Abruzzo is a mountainous region with the highest mountains in central Italy, which are part of the Apennines that form the backbone of the region on the western side. The highest peaks are in the Grand Sasso group (where Mussolini was kept prisoner), where the Corno Grande reaches a height of 2,912m (9,551ft). The region contains three national parks: Gran Sasso-Laga, Maiella-Morrone, and the national park of Abruzzo, which is home to the endangered species of Marsican brown bears (which are unique to Italy), as well as wolves, deer, chamois, and many other mammals and birds.

Abruzzo is sparsely populated (1.25 million people, with a density of 116 people per sq km) due to its mountainous terrain and high emigration. However, its folk traditions endure through a myriad of rituals, festivals and pilgrimages, and the local dialect is still widely spoken. There has been an increase in prosperity in recent years thanks to state aid, new industry and the harnessing of water power to create electricity. The area between Pescara and Chieti is the region's economic centre, with the highest per capita income in southern Italy and relatively low unemployment (around 8 per cent). Abruzzo has traditionally been dominated by a mountain economy and is noted for sheep farming - the migration of sheep towards the southern regions of Puglia and Lazio is a centuries old tradition. The region is also famous for its handicrafts.

L'Aquila (which means 'The Eagle'), the regions capital, is a university city noted for its rich cultural life. It was founded in the 13th century by people drawn from 99 smaller centres, an event commemorated by a 99-spout fountain. In the 1400s, L'Aquila was the second most important city in the Spanish Kingdom of Naples and is one of the smallest (and the youngest) capital cities in Italy.

The region contains a wealth of attractive historic towns, including Atri, Lanciano, Penne and Vasto, while other interesting towns include Chieti, Pescara, Scanno (noted for its traditional copperware), Sulmona (known for its sugar-covered almonds or confetti) and Teramo. Pescara (whose name comes from the word pesca meaning fishing, once the main activity of the area) is a popular holiday resort and the only city in the region with a population of over 100,000. Other resorts include Francavilla al Mare, Guilianova, Montesilvano, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Silvi Marina and Vasto. Roccaraso and Pescasseroli in the Simbruini mountains are popular ski resorts with Romans, but their long, cold winters and tortuous road don't make them popular with foreigners.

Property: Traditional local architecture consists of roughly-built stone houses with small windows, usually built in groups on hillsides, while in towns severe stone palazzi are common. The price of old buildings in need of renovation is quite low compared with the rest of Italy, although the region isn't popular among foreigners and there are abandoned villages for sale. Property prices start at Euro 930 per sqm, although rural buildings for restoration are considerably cheaper.

Communications: Abruzzo has excellent communications, particularly with Rome due to the recent opening of the A24 motorway. The nearest international airport is Rome and there's a regional airport at Pescara.

(extract from "Buying a Home in Italy" by David Hampshire)