If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider visiting the Abruzzi region of central Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can see scads of churches, lots of Roman ruins, engage in winter sports, simply enjoy nature and much more. Abruzzi is definitely off the beaten path, despite the fact that it is fairly close to Rome. We start our tour of eastern Abruzzi in the small city of Sulmona. Then we head north to Chieti and northwest to Pescara on the Adriatic Sea. Be sure to read the companion articles in this series that present western Abruzzi and the fabulous Gran Sasso National Park.

Sulmona is a city of about twenty-five thousand. You may choose to start your tour at the Cattedrale di San Panfilo built on the site of a Roman temple. From the Cathedral you can stroll down “main street”, Corso Ovido, named for the great poet Ovid and enjoy the arcades, palaces, churches, and shops. The Fifteenth Century Palazzo dell’Annunziata houses the Museo Civico (Municipal Museum). Sadly the church of San Francesco della Scarpa was destroyed by an earthquake leaving only a Romanesque doorway. Across the way you will see a lovely Fifteenth Century Renaissance fountain fed by an even older aqueduct with many arches still standing.

Piazza Garibaldi is named for the hero of Italian unification. It is the largest square in town and boasts a lovely Baroque fountain. Every Easter there is a traditional procession of the statue of the Madonna. Summer here means the Palio style medieval festival and horse race, known as the Giostra Cavalleresca. Enjoy the market days on Wednesday and Saturday.