Italy - Abruzzo

Experience Italy in blooming May or in golden October

9-day hiking tour in the "Green Heart" of Italy with Tomas Raabe

In the middle of the Italian boot lies the province of "Abruzzo" to the east of Rome, stretching from the heights of the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. This unique and still almost unknown region is rarely visited by foreign tourists. Enjoy the unique and breathtaking nature, let yourself be captivated by Gothic and Romanesque churches with precious frescoes inside, medieval towns and villages and enjoy the excellent regional cuisine. Hike on little-known trails in different regions of this unique Italian province.

With three national parks and one regional park, the Abruzzo region has the highest density of nature reserves in Italy, which is why it is often referred to as the "green heart" of Italy. It enchants with majestic mountain ranges, impressive forests, picturesque hills and vineyards. You will also find a hospitable population far removed from the tourism of the overcrowded coastal areas. Italy as you have probably never experienced it before: cozier, more original, more cordial and simply enchanting.

Flora and fauna are strictly protected in three national parks and one regional park covering a total of around 300,000 hectares. This leads to an enormous diversity of species. Bears and wolves are the flagship of the mountain regions, but we probably won't get to see them. We will probably be luckier with the Abruzzo chamois.

Among the plants, endemic lilies and orchid species are impressive. The protected natural areas fascinate with dense forests, water-rich valleys and barren high mountain landscapes. Abruzzo's culinary delights include products from the centuries-old tradition of livestock farming (sheep), its famous wines and much more. The lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio and the Abruzzo saffron from the plateau near Navelli, which is mainly used in Milanese cuisine, are known far beyond Abruzzo's borders.

Abruzzo is a central-southern Italian region on the Adriatic Sea where stable areas of high pressure can prevail up to and including mid-November.

can prevail up to and including mid-November. Temperatures are pleasant for hiking at around 18 to 25 degrees during the day. In the evening and at night it gets

cool at medium altitudes. This is the time of the olive harvest. With a bit of luck, you might see sugar-covered peaks

Your tour guide on the Abruzzo hiking tour: Tomas Raabe

Born in Frankfurt, Tomas first came to Abruzzo 12 years ago. He was immediately impressed by the authenticity of this Italian region and realized that he wanted to be part of it himself. As a result, he bought a small farmhouse and began producing his own olive oil. Through his regional awareness, he quickly found contact with the locals and also his passion for the nature and culture of this region. He knows the hidden paths of this little-touched region and with his extensive knowledge of history and nature from his previous life as a qualified geographer/geologist and landscape ecologist, he has been inspiring his guests there for several years and giving you an insight into the authentic life of unknown Italy, especially from a culinary perspective.