Written by Taurusgal on 04 Oct, 2004
It’s sad to think that most people will never travel to the wonderfully authentic and unique region of Abruzzo. Understandably, there is so much to see and do in Firenze, Roma, and Venezia that there just isn’t enough time to take it all in on…Read More
It’s sad to think that most people will never travel to the wonderfully authentic and unique region of Abruzzo. Understandably, there is so much to see and do in Firenze, Roma, and Venezia that there just isn’t enough time to take it all in on one trip. But if you’ve ever exhausted the long museum lines, pricey admission fees, and all right, yes, some of the most amazing, breathtaking, and important architectural and art masterpieces on the planet, there are alternatives!
Allow me to make a poor comparison: if Roma and Milano are the NYC and Washington, DC of Italy, then Abruzzo is the entire Great Plains. It’s the bread basket, milk, goat cheese, grapes, and heart of Italy. Drive west and within 20 minutes you can go hiking or skiing in the Abruzzo Mountains. Bike or climb down the rocky cliffs of Acqua Bella (city of Ortona) and a tiny private rock beach on the Adriatic Sea is all yours.
During the Second World War, brave Canadian and New Zealand divisions battled German squads up and down the streets of Ortona and San Leonardo. The house next door to my grandmother’s is still a wreck from the war, and many middle-aged residents easily recall childhood days of playing out in the fields and discovering leftover shells.
There are no hotels in San Leonardo or in the other tiny villages that dot the area around Pescara, but there are plenty of resorts and accommodations in places like Pescara, Lanciano, Chieti, L’Aquila, and others — as well as fantastic campsites throughout Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo.
Written by melissa_bel on 08 Aug, 2004
Even though it is such a small village, there is a bus service that will take the traveller to San Salvo and/or Vasto and back. It also stops at the San Salvo-Vasto station (and from there, you can take the train that rides all along…Read More
Even though it is such a small village, there is a bus service that will take the traveller to San Salvo and/or Vasto and back. It also stops at the San Salvo-Vasto station (and from there, you can take the train that rides all along the Adriatic Coast), change trains in Pescara if you need to go to Rome. The bus comes early in the morning (around 6:30) and its service is aimed to transport people who are working in the cities. You can catch it on Largo del Popolo. It makes a circle through Torrebruna and Celenza sul Trigno before going to San Salvo, Vasto Marina and Vasto. Two buses will take you back in the afternoon (around 1:30 and around 4:30). Attention, there are no stop signs for the bus, you'll have to remember where you stepped off. And if someone can give you a lift to the intersection with the main highway, you can catch one of the numerous buses that go to Rome or other destinations. You pay your ticket as you board the bus.
If you miss the last bus to town, a taxi can take you (but it's going to cost!).