The tiny antique church in Tossicia of S. Antonio Abate may be small but it is like stumbling upon a chest of hidden treasure when you visit. Its beauty lies in having one of the finest examples of a romanesque portal which once you begin photographing you just can’t stop

If you are considering a holiday to Abruzzo, the first 2 weeks of November should definitely be considered, especially if you are partial to wine, chestnuts and bonfires that ward off the nip in the air that descends with November

A short drive from Bascianella, on one of the roads over the mountains, is the hillside town of Castelli, home to one of Italy’s most well-known crafts. Castelli ceramics is one of those art forms (like English cottage-ware and glass animals) that seems to provoke conflicting reactions from people. A traditional form of glazed & painted majolica that can be traced as far back as the

An experience not to be missed by anyone visiting Abruzzo has to be the amazing 16th century village Santo Stefano di Sessanio, 1250masl, on the edge of the Campo Imperatore plain in the Gran Sasso National Park. This remarkable location is an architectural delight

An August Abruzzo evening theatrical festival that is worth a visit is held at the beautiful medieval village of Castiglione della Valle in celebration of Lucrezia Borgia. Actors and street performers in period costume are dotted throughout the village; jugglers, fire-eaters, “beggars”, and a choir helped the anticipation until a

Approximately 15km north of Teramo is the hill-town of Civitella del Tronto, a 16th century town that grew up at the time of the Spanish domination of the area, around the magnificent Bourbon ‘Fortezza’ (fortress)

For those, like me, that do not go to church at home but are planning an Abruzzo Christmas, do try and go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (Vigilia di Natale) in Italy outside the big cities just for the experience, you’ll discover how far the original meaning of Christmas remains in Catholicism’s birthplace

Christmas Eve Menus (La Vigilia di Natale) at home & restaurants in Abruzzo do uphold the religious aspect of Christmas with the focus being fish, fish and more fish, likewise Italian culture consists of upholding ‘fare bella figura’ - keeping up appearances and making the right impression with dress, bearing and attitude.