Abruzzo - Culture

People are believed to have been in this region for about 700,000 years. The Abruzzo region is a unique blend of old and new.Abruzzo has an attractive coastline and a startling variety of marine life. It also has a magnificent mountain range. The shore is lined with a great series of sand dunes. The shoreline is dotted with one man fishing posts (called trabocchi) which are small huts built on piles. The sandy shores offer pebble beaches surrounded by green hills covered with mulberries, strawberry and pine forests. Nearby the winding Apennines Mountains, with their towering peaks and glaciers, provide for a very different atmosphere. These are the southernmost mountains in all of Europe.

The main city in the Abruzzo region is L'Aquila. Throughout the region, the memories of ancient Abruzzo are still alive and well. Some of the areas history dates back to Roman times, some even further back as found in pre-historical sites such as the necropolis of CampoValano, or in the archaeological finds of Touta Maruca at Rapino.

Medieval Abruzzo is just as interesting. It features ancient churches, famous abbeys, secluded monasteries, and old castles. The Romanesque style architecture was brought to the area by the Benedictine monks from Cluny. Here the older buildings feature a combination of local craftsmanship and Romanesque sculpture including stylistic developments in pulpits, bell towers and altars. Other striking artistic features can be found in Abruzzo's medieval and Renaissance paintings. The series of frescoes in the Oratory of San Pallegrino in Bonimaco and the frescoes in the Cathedral of Atri, feature the work of Abruzzo painter, Andrea de Litio. Abruzzo is a region where religion, art and history are deeply immersed in nature.

There are over 500 castles, watch towers and walls around the Abruzzo. These structures were built by locals to defend their land against potential invaders. Many of them were destroyed by earthquakes, but some remain. Among the survivors are the castles of Balsorano, Bussi sul Tirino, Celano, Capestrano, Crecchio, Gagliano Aterno, L'Aquila, Nocciano, and Roccascalegna. Also surviving the earthquake, is the magnificent Civitella del Tronto Fortress.

Local feasts and festivals liven up the tourist season in Abruzzo. These events offer visitors a true taste of local culture, ancient rituals, and the areas warm hospitality. Over the years, the Abruzzo region has managed to conserve centuries-old traditions with modern culture. Leading figures in literature, art, philosophy and religion were born in this region where quaint villages and cities of art mix with modern towns.

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