Turist Activities
L’Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo, a region in central Italy characterized by high mountains, green hills and a charming coastline on the Adriatic Sea. Among Italy’s regions, Abruzzo has the highest percentage of protected land, thanks to 3 national parks, 1 regional park, a marine protected area, and over 30 nature reserves. It is one of the largest natural areas in Europe that preserves wild lands and spectacular landscapes.
The City
The city of L’Aquila sits at the center of a plateau at an altitude of 720 meters above sea level along the banks of the Aterno River. It is one of the highest and coldest provincial capitals in Italy. It boasts a vast architectural heritage of churches, palaces, and buildings, marked over the centuries by several very strong seismic events (1461, 1703, 2009). However, these events never dampened the strength and bravery of its inhabitants, who have preserved the city’s history. A layer of medieval walls, numerous Renaissance palaces, and several buildings in both neoclassical and baroque styles built after the 18th-century earthquake are still visible. After the 2009 earthquake, the city was restored to its former splendor, and today much of its artistic and architectural heritage has been recovered.
The city annually offers a rich program of artistic and cultural events, those close to Rinem2026 are Perdonanza Celestiniana and the jazz festival. Also L’Aquila has been named Italian Capital of Culture 2026 for which special events are in program. For an in-depth virtual tour of the city please visit QUILAQUILA and L’Aquila – What to see and travel guide.
The Mountain
The main nature parks are easily accessible from L’Aquila. The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is home to the Gran Sasso, the highest mountain in the Apennines, which contains the remains of southern Europe’s only glacier (Gran Sasso d’Italia). The Majella National Park immerges you in a world of authentic emotions, where wild nature blends with the spirituality of sacred places, it was the land of hermits, offering moments of pure magic and contemplation. The Abruzzo National Park hosts, beside of the rich fauna typical of the central Apennines, the ancient beech forests which have obtained the recognition of UNESCO world heritage being home to the oldest beech trees in the northern hemisphere (560 years).
The Natural Regional Park Velino-Sirente has a morphology characterized by canyons, plateaus, valleys, cliffs, and scree slopes, resulting in a remarkable diversity of environments with wide variety of plants and wildlife species. Appennine wolves, Marsican brown bears, European bears, deers and chamois constitute the big fauna of the Abruzzo mountains which can be admired in specific wildlife areas. Immersed in nature, there are numerous trekking / hiking routes with various levels of difficulty: from beginners to the most experienced.
The Coast
Abruzzo boasts 133 km of coastline, alternating rugged coastlines with golden sands, lively beaches, and pebble coves. Along the northern coast lie the so-called pearls of Abruzzo’s “Garden Coast”, resorts with sandy beaches and well-equipped lidos. In the middle, surrounded by dense pine and Aleppo pine forests, lies the “Torre del Cerrano” Marine Protected Area, boasting extraordinary environmental diversity.
To the south, the coast is characterized by cliffs and small gravel coves, perfect for diving and exploring the clear Adriatic Sea. Here, the fascinating 40 km-long Costa dei Trabocchi, ancient wooden fishing boats suspended over the sea, extends. There are two promontories to look out over: the D’Annunzio’s hermitage, one of the most picturesque corners of the Abruzzo coast, and the protected area of Punta Aderci Promontory. All of Abruzzo’s coastal towns are distinguished by the uniqueness and variety of flavors of their seafood cuisine.
Art, Faith and Culture
There are numerous itineraries—environmental, historical, cultural, religious, and food and wine—that pass through the green hills of Abruzzo, from the Adriatic coast to the peaks of Gran Sasso and Morrone, crossing towns and villages that have preserved their historic architecture and folk and gastronomic traditions.