Abruzzo itineraries between sea and mountains, a stone's throw from Il Magnolia.
SEA
The Abruzzo coast offers many types of beaches, from sandy, fine, and golden ones like in Francavilla al Mare, to rocky ones made of stones and pebbles like in Ripari di Giobbe, from equipped and crowded beaches like in Pescara to free ones, and even hidden coves difficult to reach, wild reserves, tourist ports; in short, a variety of landscapes that, together with the Trabocchi coast, make this coastline unique.
The Trabocchi Coast is one of the closest attractions to B&B Il Magnolia.
The trabocchi are ancient stilt houses over the water, formerly used as fishing machines, today true national monuments protected by the region. You can admire them by cycling along the Via Verde cycle path that starts from Ortona and winds south to Vasto Marina, offering a wonderful view overlooking the sea.
In this landscape, typical Mediterranean scrub plants such as oleanders, pines, and brooms also dominate; while cycling, you can admire and smell nature, stop for a swim here and there if it's summer, or eat in some of the trabocchi that have become characteristic fish restaurants (it's generally best to book in advance). In Ortona, you can see the Aragonese Castle overlooking the sea, in San Vito Chietino the wonderful terrace over the Adriatic, in Fossacesia the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and in Vasto the Punta Aderci natural reserve.
If from Il Magnolia you decide instead to move north, you will encounter Pescara, a modern-looking city with scenic bridges, shops, and clubs, like those in Corso Umberto in the center, Corso Mantoné and Via delle Caserme - two parallel alleys, practically uninhabited during the day, full of people in the evening - Zona Merci, just after the center, which has become the nightlife hub in recent years and gets crowded from aperitif time until late at night. In summer, the nightlife concentrates in the lidos of the Riviera Nord for dancing on the beach.
Moving further north, you can discover the protected marine area between Silvi and Pineto, where you can admire the Torre di Cerrano beach.
MOUNTAINS AND NATURE
If you love mountains and want to explore them, from Il Magnolia you can take the highway, which is just over a kilometer away, and reach the wildest heart of Abruzzo in less than an hour.
Our mountains offer the possibility of many different experiences all year round, among national parks, nature reserves, and small hilltop villages. Don't be afraid to get lost on its roads, because if you encounter difficulties, you will always find a friendly person to ask for the right path.
In these natural areas, you are likely to encounter free-roaming native wildlife: we are talking about the Abruzzo chamois, the Marsican brown bear, Apennine wolves, or deer, which in some villages, like Villetta Barrea, you might even encounter undisturbed in the alleys, so much so that the town has been nicknamed The Village of Deer.
During winter, the mountains can be chosen for skiing, snowshoeing, admiring snow-capped peaks, and visiting snow-covered villages. If the season is particularly favorable, even just driving on roads with snow walls over a meter high makes your journey magical and evocative.
A nice way to explore the area could be to take a historic train, the Abruzzo Trans-Siberian Railway, named after the snowy forests it crosses during winter, starting from Sulmona, up to the Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo railway station, the highest in the entire Apennine range.
These vintage carriages will slowly accompany you through sheep tracks and small villages to discover breathtaking landscapes that you would not otherwise have had the opportunity to admire; there are year-round routes, by reservation, and not only during the cold season.
Abruzzo is rich in national parks, and here in autumn, the woods are at their best with foliage and endless shades of green, yellow, orange, and brown.
Within the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, we recommend the Bosco dei Faggi Torti in the Teramo area, a unique forest of its kind, with characteristic trunks bent by nature, while in the Parco Nazionale della Maiella e d’Abruzzo, you could visit fairy-tale places like the ancient beech forest of Bosco di Sant’Antonio, located near Pescocostanzo, a Renaissance village recently elected one of Italy's most beautiful villages and also worth a visit.
During spring, some places like Campo Imperatore are renowned for the natural blooming of crocuses, which occurs immediately after the snow melts and turns the entire plain into a fascinating purple expanse. Also in spring, you can visit the waterfalls which are even more impressive at this time as the melting of winter snow makes the water flow more abundant: from the small but enchanting Gole di Pennadomo, where you can also admire the characteristic cliffs, to the San Giovanni waterfall, from Zompo lo Schioppo, to the valley of the Cento Cascate or the Gole del Salinello.
In late spring or summer, you could visit the Valle dell’Orfento, a canyon carved by water within the Maiella, which can be explored via wooden bridges, between streams and small waterfalls immersed in greenery.
The caves are also an excellent refuge from the summer heat of the coast, for example the Grotte del Cavallone, the highest in Italy which can be reached by cable car, the Grotte di Pietrasecca or Stiffe, where among stalactites and stalagmites there are small rapids, waterfalls, and underground rivers, or even canoe on Italy's cleanest river, the Tirino, with its clear and crystal-clear waters, and green "sedanina" seabeds.
ART BETWEEN VILLAGES AND CASTLES
The villages in the Abruzzo hinterland are generally small, sparsely populated towns perched on the mountains; among the most beautiful in Italy, Pescocostanzo, Santo Stefano di Sessanio or Civitella del Tronto will give you the impression that time has stood still.
Here you will find alleys and ancient towers, stone staircases, amazing views surrounded by mountains, wrought iron railings, often handmade, because copper and iron craftsmanship is part of an ancient regional tradition, which you can admire well in the citadel of Guardiagrele, particularly renowned for its wrought iron workshops. It was one of the artisans of this town who hand-created the mirrors and chandeliers of our restaurant from a sketch.
Some examples of characteristic villages can also be Pacentro, at the foot of Mount Morrone, with its typical quadrangular towers, or Opi, an ancient village in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, or even Rocca Calascio, with the most famous medieval castle of cinematic fame – films such as “Lady Hawk” and “The Name of the Rose” were filmed there.
Aielli is the right destination if you like street art, because it is an open-air museum of colorful murals. Another medieval village worth visiting is Scanno, famous for its bobbin lace craftsmanship and its heart-shaped lake where you can swim in the warm months, or take a pedalo or rickshaw tour.
Abruzzo is a land rich in tradition, history, and nature, so there is still much to see. We invite you to Il Magnolia in any season to discover Abruzzo and its wonders.