Italy: Abruzzo

This new, fourth edition of Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo remains the only standalone English-language guide to this beautiful, increasingly favoured part of Italy. Abruzzo offers the best of undiscovered Italy, from pristine beaches to mountain glaciers, with charming medieval villages clinging to the hillsides in between. This edition has been thoroughly updated to cover all recent developments, explaining in detail its appeal for active tourism, including wildlife-watching, trekking, skiing and horse-riding, plus family holidays.

Abruzzo offers one of Italy's most beautiful coastlines, which lie near the country's tallest mountain ranges outside the Alps. Little wonder that Abruzzo is Italy's second most popular skiing centre bar the Alps and that it offers some the country's finest hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities. Moreover, according to the 'I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia' ('Italy's most beautiful towns') programme, Abruzzo has 25 such locations, second only to Umbria.

What makes the Abruzzo region remarkable is that, despite being so close to Rome, it is still about as unique and authentic an Italian experience as you can get in a country so devoured by international tourism. The Abruzzesi feel a sense of relief about this, viewing theirs as the one truly untouched region in Italy - and this despite increasing accessibility from other European countries and its emergence as a leading conference destination.

Alongside practical information how to get around, and suggestions for the best places to stay and eat (including both secret urban gems and remote rural idylls), Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo also advises on where to go to enjoy Blue Flag beaches, mountain walks, pristine castles, frescoed churches, World War II commemorative sites, Roman ruins and the chance to spot charismatic animals such as brown bears and grey wolves. There is extensive coverage of Abruzzo's notable cultural and linguistic diversity, and of its cuisine: Abruzzo is home to most of Italy's pasta production. Written with warmth and insight by a native Abruzzese, this fourth edition of Bradt's Italy: Abruzzo contains all the practical and background information, and expert local advice, you need to discover this surprising, enchanting Italian region.

A freelance writer and editor, Luciano di Gregorio (lucianodigregorio.com) has been published in major newspapers and magazines, writing mostly on travel and education-related topics. He was born and raised in Pescara (Abruzzo, Italy), then in Melbourne (Australia). During his late teens and twenties, he spent every possible holiday in Abruzzo with family and friends, where his connection to the region deepened. By his mid-twenties, he was so baffled that there were no English-language guides to the region that he approached Bradt, seeking to showcase the region's eclectic mix of experiences, from lazing on sandy beaches to hiking the peaks of the central Apennines. Luciano currently lives in Abruzzo, which panders to his passions for beaches, skiing and loud family lunches. His Abruzzo favourites include Chieti's beaches, Monte Amaro's ski slopes and Sunday afternoons taking in the view of the Adriatic from Silvi's old town.