A castle rising out of the rock, a heart-shaped lake and restaurants perched over the sea: Abruzzo can catch you off guard. Within a few hours, the landscape shifts between the peaks of Gran Sasso and the coves of the Costa dei Trabocchi, passing medieval villages that have held onto their character and parks that protect rare biodiversity.
These are good routes for anyone hoping to avoid the usual places without missing out on memorable scenery. Here are ten less-frequented spots in Abruzzo showing a more genuine side of the region.
- Roccascalegna Castle: a fortress built into the rock
- Lake Scanno: the blue-green heart of the Apennines
- Gran Sasso and Campo Imperatore: Italy’s “Little Tibet”
- Rocca Calascio: the film location that caught cinema’s attention
- Alba Fucens and Piccolomini Castle: two millennia side by side
- Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio: art and the Perdonanza
- Santo Stefano di Sessanio: the village brought back to life
- San Donato in Castelli: the majolica ceiling
- Costa dei Trabocchi and the Via Verde: sea and timber
- Sulmona: art, aqueduct and confetti
Roccascalegna Castle: a fortress built into the rock
In the province of Chieti, Roccascalegna Castle seems like a natural continuation of the rock beneath it. Its commanding position and medieval layout give broad views across the Majella and the surrounding countryside. Its walls and walkways make the defensive role of the complex clear, and it can now be visited along with the village at its foot.
Lake Scanno: the blue-green heart of the Apennines
In the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park area, Lake Scanno is the region’s largest natural lake. Its turquoise waters make swimming, pedalo hire and birdwatching possible in summer, while paths around the shoreline provide a series of changing views. The Sagittario Gorge leads into the area along a road cut through the rock, creating a striking approach. The nearby village of Scanno has kept its filigree craft and living traditions.
Gran Sasso and Campo Imperatore: Italy’s “Little Tibet”
Within Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park are Corno Grande, at 2,912 metres, and the Campo Imperatore plateau, celebrated for its huge open views. Summer brings walking, cycling and landscape photography, while snow sports take over in winter.
Stiffe Caves: a nearby karst wonder
Not far from L’Aquila, in Sirente-Velino Regional Park, the Stiffe Caves are crossed by an underground watercourse with interior waterfalls. Guided visits explain the shape and formation of the caves, alongside the changing light and sounds of moving water.
Rocca Calascio: the film location that caught cinema’s attention
At 1,460 metres, the fortress looks out over the Piana di Navelli, with pale-stone bastions rising above it. Its suspended, otherworldly atmosphere has attracted international filmmakers and made the area a familiar screen location. At the foot of the fortress is the octagonal Oratory of Santa Maria della Pietà, completing one of central Italy’s most recognisable scenes.
Alba Fucens and Piccolomini Castle: two millennia side by side
At the foot of Monte Velino, the archaeological site of Alba Fucens preserves an amphitheatre, street layouts and Roman public structures. A few kilometres away, Celano’s Piccolomini Castle is a fine example of aristocratic architecture with broad views. Together, they allow a look at very different eras in a single outing.
Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio: art and the Perdonanza
In L’Aquila, Collemaggio combines artistic importance with civic memory. Founded in the 13th century and connected with Pope Celestine V, it contains painted cycles and the Pope’s remains. The Perdonanza Celestiniana, a jubilee established in 1294, is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, reflecting the site’s central place in local identity.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio: the village brought back to life
Within Gran Sasso National Park, this fortified village shows careful restoration of historic buildings. The albergo diffuso initiative, a dispersed hotel using restored homes across the village, has helped bring life back to its old buildings while respecting original materials and food traditions, including the plateau’s well-regarded lentils.
San Donato in Castelli: the majolica ceiling
In Castelli, the historic centre of Teramo ceramics, the Church of San Donato contains a ceiling completely covered in majolica tiles, dated 1615–1617. Heraldic, floral and religious motifs form a colourful mosaic. Writer Carlo Levi called it the “Sistine Chapel of majolica”, a description that has stuck.
Costa dei Trabocchi and the Via Verde: sea and timber
Between Ortona and Vasto, the coast alternates between cliffs, beaches and coves marked by trabocchi, historic timber fishing structures that have become symbols of the area. Many now contain restaurants over the sea, serving menus based on locally caught fish. The Via Verde follows a disused railway line, connecting the more scenic points with gentle gradients.
Sulmona: art, aqueduct and confetti
In the Peligna Valley, Sulmona has squares, churches and a medieval aqueduct crossing Piazza Garibaldi in dramatic fashion. Local workshops display floral arrangements made with confetti, sugar-coated almonds, reflecting a long-established craft also documented in a museum. Closely associated with the poet Ovid, the town brings together culture and skilled local craftsmanship.
Article seen on The Wom Travel: 10 posti bellissimi e poco conosciuti da scoprire in Abruzzo
