Abruzzo, (also known as Abruzzi, an older obsolete plural denomination) is a region of south central Italy, formerly a part of the Abruzzi e Molise region (with Molise). It borders Marche to the north-west, Umbria to the west, Lazio to the south, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east.

The region covers 10,794 km² and has a population of about 1.3 million.

The regional capital is L'Aquila. The region is divided into four provinces: L'Aquila, Teramo, Chieti and Pescara, Abruzzo's main economic centre.

The region is rich in natural beauties and history, but is only just starting to be discovered by mass tourism. Abruzzo's wealth of castles and medieval towns, especially near the town of L'Aquila has earned it in some quarters the nickname of "Abruzzoshire", by analogy with the "Chiantishire" nickname sometimes used to refer to the Chianti area of Tuscany.

Some towns in Abruzzo include L'Aquila, Chieti , Pescara, Teramo, Vasto, Avezzano , Giulianova , Sulmona , Lanciano , Montesilvano , Francavilla al Mare , Roseto , Penne, Castel di Sangro and, smaller in size, Tortoreto , Alba Adriatica , Pescasseroli , Collelongo , Villavallelonga, Gissi, Rocca di Mezzo near Campo Felice , a ski resort in the Gran Sasso Mountains, Ovindoli , another ski resort near the Velino mountain, and Roccaraso , the first ski resort in the South - Central Italy, near Castel di Sangro.

Notable natives of Abruzzo

• Gaius Sallustius Crispus
• Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid)
• Gabriele D'Annunzio
• Benedetto Croce
• Ennio Flaiano
• Ignazio Silone
• Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
• Rocco Tano

External links

• Regione Abruzzo
• Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo