The territory of Abruzzo is, roughly, the shape of a semicircle with a diameter of about 150 kilometres. The coastline, 129 kilometres long, stretches from the river Tronto to the Trigno and constitutes the eastern boundary of the region, while the North borders with Marche, the South with Molise and the West with Lazio. The land boundaries of the region are 467 kilometres long altogether.
The name derives from latin Aprutium.
The regional territory covers 10,794 square kilometres, the majority of which (65.1%, 7,027 square kilometres) is mountainous. 34.9% is constituted by hills. The statistics do not mention the plains. Near the coast, in fact, there are no plains, whereas in the inland there are a few, in the river's valley bottoms and also at high altitudes. The largest plain, the Piana del Fucino, can be considered "artificial" because it was the result of the drying up of the lake Fucino in the last century. The territory of the four provinces of Abruzzo is divided in very different altimetric areas. The province of L'Aquila is totally characterized by mountains; in the Chieti area hills prevail, while in Pescara and Teramo the areas covered by mountains are more or less the same as those covered by hills
The regional capital is L'Aquila.
REGION OF PARKS: In the western half of the region there is a series of mountainous chains (Laga, Gran Sasso, Velino, Sirente, Simbruini, Ernici, Majella and Monti Marsicani), with the highest peaks of the Apennine (Gran Sasso's Corno Grande, Majella's Monte Amaro, Monte Velino). Some of these chains are closer to the sea (Majella and east side of the Gran Sasso); others, as the Monti Frentani, are even closer to the Adriatic sea.
The Gran Sasso is made of a long ridge mainly orientated towards north-west and south-east, leaning southward from the Monte Siella to Forca di Penne. The majestic massif, indented and with very steep sides, grey and off-white in colour, rises from the karst plateau of Campo Imperatore (1600 mts high and 150 square kms wide) in a Dolomitic scenery, with pointed peaks, crests and vertical sides almost reaching up to 3000 metres. Among these we can mention Corno Grande (2912 mts) where the only glacier of the Apennine survives and the most southern in Europe: the Calderone, the Corno Piccolo (2637 mts), the Monte Brancastello (2560 mts), the Monte Aquila (2495 mts). The Gran Sasso joins north-west with the massif of the Monti della Laga, and the Vomano valley lies between them. The Laga mountains are covered in woods and their peaks reach almost 2500 metres, as in the case of the Gorzano (2458 mts), the Pizzo di Sevo (2419 mts), or the Monte di Mezzo and the Monti della Laghetta (2369 mts), a real balcony over the Lake of Campotosto, the artificial basin at the service of the hydroelectrical plants of the Vomano valley and natural reserve, an oasis for many species of aquatic birds.
The Majella group is separated from the Gran Sasso by the Gole di Tremonti (or Gole di Popoli), carved by the Pescara river, and is situated close to the southern part of the coastline. The mountains of this group rise up directly from Chieti hills and from the valley of the Aventino river, the Pescara, of the Peligna plain (of Aterno-Pescara river) and of the maj or plateaus. They rise from the vast Peligna basin. The Monte Amàro (2793 mts), the second highest peak of the Apennine after the Corno Grande, dominates the karst plateau of the Femmina Morta, about 4 kms long and, southward, an enormous dome of calcarean rock, marked by deep channels terminating in naked walls on the high eastern hills. Between the plain of the Fucino and the valley of L'Aquila stand alligned the chain of Sirente and the massif of Velino, one next to the other; north of these there is a series of main plateaus of the Apennine: the Altopiano delle Rocche, the Altopiano di Campo Felice, the Prati del Sirente and the Piani di Pezza. Similar formations exist south-west of the Majella, the so-called major plateaus, one of which is the Piano delle Cinquemiglia.The plain of Fucino divides the chain of Velino-Sirente from a third one, which belongs only partially to Abruzzo, as it runs along the border of Lazio. It is formed by the extended group of the Monti Simbruini and Ernici, a little over 2000 mts in height. Beyond the wide Valle Roveto, the chain reaches the south-western border of the region, joining the Mountains of the National Park of Abruzzo.
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Main Tourist attractions :
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L'Aquila:
This is a small story of hope.
Abruzzo, L'Aquila and its suburbs was almost destroyed in the night between 5 and 6 April 2009 from an earthquake of unimaginable violence. People, animals, houses and unrepeatable works of art, in 20 terrifying seconds, were deeply affected. These wounds cannot be be erased from the mind but the SOLIDARITY manifested by rescuers, opens a hope that is stronger than the pain. Here's a little story that proves it. The students who were the most affected, trying to retrieve their most important things from houses destroyed. But the buildings are at risk and then, here's the "angels of the earthquake": that of civil protection volunteers, the firemen.
Also to embrace again a tiger of peluche may help to hope again.
Thank you "angels of the earthquake"!
L'Aquila contains many vestiges of its late medieval glory, and fine examples of romanesque and renaissance art.
S.Maria di Collemaggio, built in thirteenth century, is a masterpiece of the Abruzzi Romanesque style with its magnificent white and pink facade. S. Bernardino da Siena is one of the finest examples of the renaissance architecture in Abruzzo. The Spanish Castle is the largest fortress in the region and represents a fine example of military architecture perfectly preserved.
The Fountain of 99 Spouts, designed by Tancredi da Pentina, is one of the most unusual in Italy. but perhaps the real charm of L'Aquila lies in its hidder corners and courtyards, and the pleasure of emerging from a dark, narrow street to discover an intersting church or fountain.
The main square of the town is what the people of L'Aquila call "La Piazza".
Other Churches and patrician palaces of interst are: S.Silvestro (14th century), S. Maria del Soccorso (15th century), S. Giusta (12th century), S. Domenico;
palaces: Centi (18th century), Benedetti (18th century), Rivera (18th century), Dragonetti (15th century), Carli (16th-18th century), De Nardis, Palazzatto dei Nobili, Ardinghelli (18th century), Quinzi (18th century), Franchi-Cappelli (16th century), Branconio (16th century) and the whole City .
Lanciano:
Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A. D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a divine response to a Basilian monk doubt about Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist.
 During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back.
The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.
Since 1713 the Flesh has been reserved in an artistic silver Ostensorium, delicately embossed by an artisan of the Neapolitan school.
The Blood is enclosed in a rich and very old cup made of Rock-crystal.
The Minor Conventual Friars have been the custodians of the Sanctuary since 1252; their appointment was the wish of Bishop Landulf of Chieti; their appointment was confirmed by a Pontificai Bull dated April, 20.1252.
The church was in charge of the Basilian monks until 1176; from 1176 until 1252 the Benedictines staffed the church. In 1258 the Franciscans built the present church.In 1700 its architectural style was changed from romanesque-gothic to baroque.
 The "Miracle" was first reserved in a chapel situated at the side of the main altar.
Then, from 1636 it was reserved in a side-altar of the nave which still contains the old iron chest and the commemorative inscription.
In 1902 it was transferred into the present monumental marble altar which the people of Lanciano had erected.
Various ecclesiastical investigation ("Recognitions") were conducted since 1574.
In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrius scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy.
He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena.
The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs
These analyses sustained the following conclusions:
The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
The Flesh consists of the muscolar tissue of the heart.
Castelli:
 At 17 kms from the S. Gabriele exit on the Teramo - L'Aquila motorway, Castelli has easy access to the coast (45 minutes by car), and to Rome (a drive of about two hours on the motorway). Its position, at an altitude of 500 metres, under the picturesque barrier of the Monte Camicia, makes it a good starting point to cross over and ascend the woodland-covered eastern face of the Gran Sasso group of mountains in the new National Park.
The mother church must be visited, where a 13th century wooden polychrome, the majolic altar-piece by Francesco Grue (1647), and a medieval silver cross of the Sulmona school have been preserved. In August, a large market exhibition of current ceramic production is set up but it is possible to wander around the streets of the town anytime of the year and come across numerous craft shops and stores. Prices vary greatly depending on the type and decoration, the choice ranging from simple rustic-like crockery with the typical "floracci", to the most refined imitations of antique collections maybe even decorated in pure gold. Monogrammed dinner-services can also be ordered or particular objects commissioned and decorated to one's own personal taste, thus making the most of the workmanship of the craftsman. Among the road out of the town and down into the valley one comes across the factories which produce mainly for markets abroad.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio:
“Sessanio” or "Sextantia”, as it was called in Roman times, is the patron saint of the village. Many structures in the village date from the eleventh through fifteenth centuries. In the twelfth century, Santo Stefano was part of the Baronage of Carapelle, which included Castel del Monte, Colascio, Capestrano, Carapelle, Castelvecchio, Ofena, and Villa S.Luca. The still standing village portal and now destroyed circular tower (the town's most notable architectural landmark) were constructed by the Medicis. The entrance portal, which leads to the village's main square, is emblazoned with the Medici coat of arms. Other historic structures include the Church of Santa Maria in Ruvo, Casa Fortezza, the Church of Santo Stefano, the ruins of the Palazzo Anelli, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the Convent S. Maria del Monte.
The village's main source of income is tourism with small boutiques, art galleries and eateries tucked into ancient stone structures.
Along with its neighbor Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano has been named one of Italy's prettiest villages, "I Borghi Piu belli D’Italia", and recognized by the Slow Food movement for its sustainable agriculture, in particular its gourmet lentils, "lenticchie". The town holds a festival the first weekend September of each year, the "Sagra delle Lenticchie", celebrating this food.
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