Sprawling National Parks, white sandy beaches, and remnants of the Roman empire, Abruzzo, even with its beautiful sights, is often forgotten.

Despite the beauty it has to offer, Abruzzo is one of the quieter parts of Italy. Just a 1.5 hour drive from Rome, it has 3 richly forrested national parks and 38 reserves, making for fantastic hiking in any season. Lakes dot the region, with a chance to explore them on a raft or canoe. We take you to a reserve with natural springs where dips are invited, especially during the balmier summer months.

Rocca Calascio is one of the charming, medieval towns that are scattered throughout Abruzzo. Here sits Italy’s tallest watchtower, at an impressive 1,500 metres above sea level. The fortress around it is just as impressive, with rock and limestone making for fantastic photos.

Also dubbed “the greenest region of Italy”, produce here is fine, fresh and tasty. Particularly at the beginning of Autumn when the weather is warm and fruits and vegetables hang heavy from trees. Benefitting both from mountain and sea, Abruzzo’s cuisine stems from fishing and farming. The region has also produced its own kind of pasta for over 200 years which we can also try our hand at making—spaghetti alla chitarra, made with a guitar-looking contraption.

Abruzzo is also famous for its skiing. The mountains are rugged with its highest slope topping at 2,000 metres. This becomes one of the coldest regions in Italy, but almost one of the most beautiful, with lovely ski resorts to rest your head at the end of a long, wintry day in the snow.