5 interesting facts about Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region of unparalleled beauty that holds a natural and scenic heritage that is more unique than rare, but also a land full of fascinating curiosities that only a few know about and that are worth knowing. Let’s discover together 5 of the most interesting facts about Abruzzo.

A truly ancient land

Abruzzo is certainly a region rich in history, but did you know that this land was inhabited since the Paleolithic period? Some archaeological findings made in the area show that the earliest traces of human presence in this region date back 600,000 years. Abruzzo’s contribution to the reconstruction of Prehistory in Italy is so significant that as many as three periods are named after its localities: the Bertoniana culture, from Montebello di Bertona, relating to the Upper Paleolithic; the Ripoli culture, from Ripoli, concerns the Neolithic; and the Ortucchio culture, from Ortucchio, the Bronze Age. Abruzzo is also home to the very first capital of Italy. It is Corfinio, a small village in the heart of the Peligna Valley.

The charm of the Trabocchi

The Trabocchi Coast is one of Italy’s most fascinating coastal stretches as well as one of Abruzzo’s most vital identity elements. In fact, it combines all the aspects that make the region unique: scenic beauty, centuries-old history, artistic heritage, ancient traditions and excellent cuisine. It lies between Ortona and Vasto, in the province of Chieti, and is characterized by an uninterrupted succession of coves and inlets, lapped by a turquoise sea. It is so named because of the widespread presence of “trabocchi,” the ancient “fishing machines” positioned on the water like stilts, which with their bizarre architecture make for a magical atmosphere. Gabriele D’Annunzio also carefully mentions and describes them in his novel “Triumph of Death.”

The green region of Europe

Abruzzo boasts the title of “Europe’s green region.” More than 30 percent of its total area is protected area: three National Parks (Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park – Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park – Maiella National Park), one Regional Park (Sirente Velino Regional Nature Park) and more than thirty Nature Reserves. Among the small ancient villages and numerous protected areas, it is possible to discover still intact environments, in contact with some of the rarest animal and plant species in Europe. There are many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed: hiking, walking, horseback riding, bicycle touring, canoe trips, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing.

Land of intellectuals and artists

Abruzzo is also a land of intellectuals and artists. In addition to D’Annunzio, who certainly needs no introduction, the following should be noted: Gaius Sallustius Crispus, a native of Amiternum who is considered one of the greatest historians of Latin literature; the painter Francesco Paolo Michetti, one of the protagonists of the Italian and international art scene of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the Ortona composer Francesco Paolo Tosti, the author of famous romances that also entered the classical repertoire of Neapolitan song; the family of painters and ceramists Basilio and Michele Cascella; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, son of Vasto poet Gabriele Rossetti, who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite artistic movement; and Benedetto Croce, the most influential Italian philosopher of the 20th century. These are just a few of the great intellectuals and artists from Abruzzo.

The narrowest street in Italy

Not everyone knows this, but the narrowest street in Italy is located in Abruzzo. The record belongs to a ruetta in the village of Civitella del Tronto. Just 40 centimeters wide (at one end), it is a real tourist attraction, reported by national and international sites. It owes its birth to purely military matters. It was in fact designed so narrow to slow down enemies in case of attack. A very common practice in medieval times. A sign is placed at its entrance, complete with a rhyme: “ruetta d’Italia la via più stretta.”

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