Hello,
First post here. Heading back to Italy for the first time in 30 years. We have rented a house in the foothills of Abruzzi, about 15-20 min from the Adriatic, in a small village (Castello SemiVicoli). I have never been south of Florence before (family was from Lombardia), my wife has never been to Italy. We will be mostly just "living there" as opposed to "vacationing" although we will be taking some multi day trips to Calabria , Naples, etc. More so to experience the local flavor than to see tourist attractions. Our goal is to eat, drink and shop where the locals do. And also to figure out where we want to spend next year's month in Italy.
The big question:
Does anyone have any recent experience in the Chieti/Pescara region that can recommend markets, restaurants, pizzerias, small museums, neat architecture, etc.? Looking for local places, not fancy/phony tourist Euro-vacuums. We live on a tourist destination island in the SE US and want to avoid anything like that. Does not have to be immediately nearby, but within reasonable day trip distance.
Thanks if anyone has anything to offer. And now back to studying my Italian.
Ciao, Darwin
Posted by
5109 posts
You are really getting away from it all, should be lovely!
The closest place I’ve been is Ascoli Piceno, an hour and a half drive, highly recommend a weekend there.
Posted by
Southeast of Seattle
732 posts
I would look at going to one of the trabocchi for a meal. Don’t eat anything before! We went to Punta Isolata-late in the season so not crowded. Must love seafood though. Well worth the price, in fact, much more food than we were expecting.
Otherwise, look at https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/ for wonderful ideas of where to go/see. Abruzzo is less traveled and really worth the time.
Posted by
OP
NC USA
24 posts
Well, the Piazza at Ascoli Piceno looks amazing. Hopefully not too crowded in the off season? Easy trip from our house in Chieti, even if we stay off the Autostrada. Thanks.
And yes, we want to eat in the out of the way places. Best meals I've had in Italy were at places I stumbled on. Often, no menu. Just, "here is what we are serving tonight". Never disappointed. And we LOVE seafood (why we live on an island). That's why we picked Pescara/Chieti area of Abruzzo. There are shacks on the beach that sell fish out of the boats, sometimes still alive. I'm packing my fillet knife in my checked bag....
If it weren't for the taxes I'd be in Italy for 11 months and in the states for 1 instead of the other way around.