- Also called:
- Abruzzo
- On the Web:
- Official Tourism Site of Abruzzo, Italy (Oct. 17, 2026)
Abruzzi
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Where is Abruzzi located in Italy?
Abruzzi is a region in central Italy that fronts the Adriatic Sea. It comprises the provinces of L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo. Most of the region is either mountainous or hilly, with the Apennines dominating the landscape. The regional capital is L’Aquila.
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What are some major cities in Abruzzi?
Abruzzi is a region in central Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea, and includes the provinces of L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo. The regional capital is L’Aquila.
L’Aquila is situated on a hill above the Aterno River, northeast of Rome. It is a skiing centre and summer resort. The city was founded around 1240 by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.
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What is the geography like in the Abruzzi region?
The Abruzzi region in central Italy is mostly mountainous or hilly, with intermontane basins such as L’Aquila, Sulmona, and Fucino. The Apennines, characterized by three northwest-southeast trending chains, dominate the physical landscape. The easternmost chain, featuring the Gran Sasso d’Italia (9,560 feet [2,914 metres]) and Maiella groups, reaches the highest elevations.
From the Gran Sasso, sand and clay hills slope eastward toward the narrow Adriatic shoreline. The Tronto, Pescara, Sangro, and Trigno rivers drain into the Adriatic, irrigating the lower areas. Deforestation on the upper slopes contributes to frequent floods and landslides during the spring and fall rains.
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What cultural traditions are important in Abruzzi?
The ancient Italic tribes that inhabited Abruzzi long resisted conquest and maintained their unique character even after Roman rule was imposed. A key cultural tradition in Abruzzi is migratory herding of sheep from mountain pastures to lowland winter pastures, though this practice is decreasing. The region is also known for its smoked ham and sausages. L'Aquila has notable buildings including the castle (1535) that houses the archaeological and artistic National Museum of the Abruzzi, the churches of San Bernardino (1454–72; 1527 facade), and Santa Maria di Collemaggio (1283–88).
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How has Abruzzi's history shaped its culture today?
The history of Abruzzi, Italy, has significantly shaped its culture today. The ancient Italic tribes that inhabited the region resisted conquest and maintained their unique character even under Roman rule. The region's name, believed to originate from the ancient Praetutii tribe, reflects this heritage.
Under Lombard rule, Abruzzi was controlled by the duchy of Spoleto, later coming under Norman, Angevin, Spanish, and Bourbon rulers. This diverse history has contributed to the region's cultural richness, seen in its folk arts like lace, silver filigree, and weaving. Despite its rugged terrain hindering economic development, the construction of a motorway to Pescara has opened the region, promoting tourism and preserving its unique cultural identity.
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Abruzzi, regione, central Italy, fronting the Adriatic Sea and comprising the provincie of L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo. Most of the region is mountainous or hilly, except for such intermontane basins as those of L’Aquila, Sulmona, and Fucino. The Apennines, the dominant physical feature, consist of three chains trending northwest-southeast, of which the easternmost, including the Gran Sasso d’Italia (9,560 feet [2,914 metres]) and Maiella groups, is the highest. From the Gran Sasso, sand and clay hills present a gradual slope eastward to the narrow Adriatic shoreline. The few small coastal harbours have little economic importance for fishing or commerce. The principal rivers (the Tronto, Pescara, Sangro, and Trigno) drain to the Adriatic, providing irrigation in their lower courses. The course of these streams is irregular, and, because of massive deforestation on the upper slopes, floods and landslides occur frequently during the spring and fall rains.
The ancient Italic tribes that once inhabited the region long resisted conquest and retained their own character even after Roman rule was imposed on them. The name of the region, originally Aprutium, is believed to have come from that of one of the ancient tribes, the Praetutii. Under Lombard rule during the early Middle Ages, the Abruzzi was controlled by the duchy of Spoleto, and Molise (the region to the south) by the duchy of Benevento. The Normans established themselves in the area in the 12th century, and the region sided with the Hohenstaufens in their long struggle with the papacy. After the fall of the Hohenstaufen dynasty in the 13th century, Abruzzi and Molise in turn came under Angevin (house of Anjou), Spanish, and Bourbon rulers. Under the last, as part of the Kingdom of Naples, they were divided into Abruzzo Ulteriore I, Abruzzo Ulteriore II, Abruzzo Citra, and Molise. As Abruzzi e Molise, they became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860 and in 1965 were divided into the separate regions of Abruzzi and Molise. The regional capital is L’Aquila. An earthquake that struck L’Aquila on April 6, 2009, damaged many of the city’s medieval buildings and killed more than 275 people.
The rugged terrain of Abruzzi long hindered its economic development. Construction of a motorway from the west to the Adriatic coast at Pescara opened the region to the rest of Italy. Agriculture is mainly of local importance, except in the intensively cultivated intermontane basins. Wheat, grapes, fruit, and olives are the most widespread crops, while tobacco, sugar beets, and saffron represent the cash crops. Livestock raising has been the mainstay of much of the region; migratory herding of sheep from mountain pastures in the Abruzzi to lowland winter pastures outside of the region continues, although on a decreasing scale. Pigs are raised, and the region’s smoked ham and sausages are well known. Industrial development, concentrated chiefly in the provincial capitals, is slight. The main rail artery is the Rome-Pescara line, and local rail connections are slowly losing traffic to buses and trucks. Tourism is increasing in the coastal resorts but is not yet a major economic factor. Area 4,168 square miles (10,794 square km). Pop. (2006 est.) 1,305,307.
