Abruzzo Travel Forum

Both of my father's parents were from Abruzzo>Chieti>Fara San Martino. It is our first trip to Italy. We will be taking a tour of Venice, Florence and Rome... in that order. I want to arrive three days early (July 29, 2007) so that we can take a one day excursion to Fara S. Martino and then meet the tour in Venice (on Wednesday August 1).
My wife and I are in our mid 50's. We are not naturalists or rock-climbers. My research suggests that we might be more comfortable staying in a hotel or B&B in a larger town on the coast (like Pescara) and driving to la Fara for the day. We're not party animals either, and I've read that, except for the nightlife, Pescara has little to offer. We would like to stay in a town that is reasonably close to la Fara (within two hours by car), but one that caters to tourists. I hope to be conversationally fluent in Italian, but would feel more comfortable if I knew that our hosts were fluent in English.

We have stayed in Montesilvano (Pescara)twice and have reviewed the hotels so do take a look. The lungomare is very pleasant and we liked Pescara and Montesilvano, we were not there for the nightlife either
Best Italian hotels website is probably www.venere.com

Conversational Italian is good enough 99% of the time, Montesilvano is an Italian resort though so English not nearly as widely spoken as in Roma or Firenze - the large train station in Pescara is probably the only place to get a foreign or English language newspaper.
Enjoy Abruzzo we will be back ourselves in a couple of years I'm sure

You could choose a sea location (not Pescara, but some turistic town) and you'll spend some days at the sea.

If you don't care about crowded summer beaches, I suggest you stay in Lanciano, population 35,000.
It is about 5 minutes by car to the Adriatic and about 20 miles away from Fara San Martino. It is a nice historic town, the pace is vibrant, but not hectic
and probably much more interesting, from your point of view, than Pescara.
Check out St. Francis's church while you are there and the Basilica built on a bridge. (You'd ask for la chiesa di San Francesco and for la Madonna del Ponte). The views are nice. Also, if you are
into classical music, they have a summer series of live concerts in the age old Roman ruins. It is quite suggestive. This would be l'estate musicale
frentana.

My relatives from America often stay at the 'Anxanum' hotel when they go visit my parents, which is centrally located in the town. They speak English.
Just google.

Fara is nice - they make the best pasta there (I am sure you know of De Cecco), they say it is because of the mountain waters. If you pass by Guardiagrele and you have time, I suggest you check it out as well. It is perched on a hilltop and they are famous for their nice ironwork. If you want
to go to quiet beaches, then drive - to Fossacesia, San Vito or Ortona.
(they are 10-15 minutes from Lanciano, and they are all smaller places.
Ortona can be quite interesting, they have an Aragon castle that is being refurbished).

You will find people for the most part to want to be helpful and mostly
everyone (at least the younger people) will speak some Italian.

PS: I am from California, but I have lived in Abruzzo for 10 years. My entire family is there. I can tell you more if you are interested.

You might like to consider Penne, Abruzzo. It is a lovely town under an hour from Pescara airport and an hour and 15 mins from La Fara.

I know a friend of mine is opening up a B&B in a Palace in the main square there, and she is English.

If you would like more details, I have her details on my website as well as a number of other accomodation providers in the area at www.abruzzowalks.com. (This site is not a commercial accomodation site, I just host peoples links)

Have a great time.

I've got the same question. But we'd like to stay in some place, from where we can easily get to Abruzzo National Park and other places of interest without a car. Which place do you recommend? Montesilvano will be ok? Are there public buses to natyral parks?

I just came across your question so this suggestion might be too late. There is a resort area called Tortereto Lido along the coast. It is not too far from Pescara. There is a bed and breakfast there run by the Di Giulio family unless they have retired. We were there in 2003. They don't speak English but their son, Fausto, does. He owns and runs a gymnasium there called Medical Sport. The area is very pretty and is a tourist area. There was a very good restaurant there that we went to. It was up a hill but I don't remember the name.

Dolores Horvat