Make your base a picturesque medieval mountain town, before you fill your days with foraging and feasting in the idyllic Italian countryside. Get to know the region through its traditional products.
PHOTOGRAPH BY PALAZZO RICCI
National Geographic – Mountainous Abruzzo might just be the Italy that time — and tourism — forgot. This under-visited region is a sprawl of Apennine landscapes dotted with lakes. It’s interspersed with medieval hilltop villages that often have pre-Roman, tribal origins. It’s also home to extensive protected areas of land and three national parks, including the Parco Nazionale della Majella. And it’s in Italy so, of course, there are incredible culinary experiences on offer, such as saffron-steeped risotto and liquorice-filled sweets.
Hearty mountain fare dominates in Abruzzo: sausages, porchetta, legumes and sharp pecorino abruzzese cheese made from sheep’s milk. Arrosticini, skewers of roasted sheep morsels, top nearly every menu. Head to the national parks to score saffron, lentils and artisanal cheeses straight from the source, or visit idyllic towns such as Casoli, Sulmona or Chieti for gluttonous lunches with mountain and valley views. Every meal starts with a bold local wine and ends with bracing shots of genziana liqueur.
