L’Aquila is a mountainous province absorbed in charming landscapes and plunged into picturesque villages and towns. Its lying valleys and high tablelands give the territory an appealing, open character that makes it a desirable place to visit and unwind, and the succession of images that enchants every visitor sits in perfect harmony with the natural, serene surroundings. Having no access to the sea has never stopped L’Aquila from offering tantalising places to visit and enjoy.

Parks, Rivers And Uncontaminated Nature

The province preserves extraordinary natural endowments — first among them one of the oldest parks in the country, the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The scenery here is characterised by rivers such as the Sangro, by karst phenomena and by long mountain chains: an ideal setting for pleasant days spent in close contact with refreshing nature, admiring the varied fauna, the rich flora and the uncontaminated landscapes.

The National Park of Abruzzo

Of the 108 communes in the province, thirteen have been feted as some of the most beautiful villages in Italy — Navelli and Castel di Monte among them. And beyond the Abruzzo National Park, the province holds a whole roster of natural treasures:

  • Sirente-Velino Regional Park — home to the Aterno, the coldest river in Italy.
  • Maiella National Park — rated the second best in the entire Apennine Range.
  • Zompo lo Schioppo Natural Reserve — keeper of the loveliest waterfall in all the Apennines.
Thirteen of the province’s 108 communes are counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy.Noi L’Aquila · The Journal

Villages, Monuments And Living Art

Though an earthquake struck in 2009, L’Aquila still retains its perfect shape for your exploration. Sulmona — the hometown of Ovid, the renowned Latin poet — is filled with creative artworks and monuments, while noble residences stand in Tagliacozzo, located close to the architectonic jewel of Rome. The whole province is dotted with beauty and with monumental complexes that contribute greatly to the conservation of its history.

Among the ancient frescoes worth seeking out are the San Pellegrino and Santa Maria complexes on the Navelli plateau, and the Cathedral of San Pelino in Corfinio is every bit as sight-worthy. The beauty and magnificence of the art collaborate wonderfully with the tablelands, the mountains and the valleys — and don’t fail to visit the Campo Imperatore del Gran Sasso plateau, only a short distance from L’Aquila.

The Table After The Trail

L’Aquila’s typical cuisine is deliciously its own — pork sausages and the prized scorsone truffle chief among its flavours, with lamb incaporchiato the traditional meal to sample. According to the history of the people of L’Aquila, meat was eaten only in special moments, which explains why the lamb was cooked covered with a second pot placed over the first.

Before you pack

Visit L’Aquila and experience more — the parks, the villages and the table are all waiting at the heart of Abruzzo.