Farm Stays in Abruzzo

Farm stays in Abruzzo sit in the most heavily protected region in Italy — roughly a third of its territory is national or regional park. The Apennines reach their highest point here at the Gran Sasso, and brown bears and wolves still live in the Abruzzo National Park.

Where to base yourself

The Gran Sasso and the Campo Imperatore plateau, above L'Aquila, give high pasture, sheep farming and a landscape closer to central Asia than to the Mediterranean. The Majella, further south, is wilder still, with deep gorges and hermitages cut into rock. Around Sulmona the valleys are broad and warm, known for red garlic and sugared almonds. The Trabocchi coast, south of Pescara, has small beaches beneath cliffs and the timber fishing platforms that give it its name.

What these farms offer

• Pecorino and ricotta from mountain flocks, still moved to high pasture in summer
• Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano from the hills between mountains and sea
• Saffron from the Navelli plain, one of the most valued crops in Italy
• Arrosticini — skewered mutton grilled over coals — as the standard farm dinner
• Walking, riding and, in winter, skiing at Roccaraso and Campo Felice

Timing and access

Late spring and early autumn are best for the mountains, when the pastures are in flower or the beech woods are turning. Summer is warm on the coast and pleasantly cool above 1,000 metres. Winter brings serious snow inland; some farms close, others serve the ski areas.

Rome is around two hours by motorway, which makes Abruzzo an easy extension to a Rome trip, and Pescara has an airport. Mountain roads are good but long, and a car is necessary everywhere outside the coastal strip.

In Abruzzo we have 101 farmhouses, including 32 with swimming pool, 55 with restaurant and 54 pet friendly.