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Abruzzo - General Info
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Abruzzo is a region of Italy bordering Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Until 1963 it was part of the Abruzzi e Molise region (with Molise). The term Abruzzi is an obsolete plural denomination from a time when the Bourbons administered the territory as "Closer Abruzzo" (Abruzzo Citeriore) and "Further Abruzzo" (Abruzzo Ulteriore).
The regional capital is L'Aquila. The region is divided into four provinces: L'Aquila (the largest), Teramo, Chieti (the most populous) and Pescara, Abruzzo's main economic centre. The four provinces are further divided into 305 municipalities. Abruzzo has a population of around 1.3 million.
Culture
In the past, the region of Abruzzo was well known for the transumanza, the migratory movements of sheep to Puglia and Lazio during the cold winter months. The province of Pescara is home to Italian Serie B team Pescara Calcio.
Dialect
The dialects of Abruzzo include Teramano, Abruzzese Orientale Adriatico and Abruzzese Occidentale. The first two form part of the Italiano meridionale-interno group of dialects in southern Italy also known simply as "Neapolitan" due to historical, geographical and political reasons (see Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies), while the dialects of L'Aquila Province are part of the Osco-Umbro group, a dialects family of central Italy, including the one of Rome. Much of their dialect is picked up from the southern areas of Italy.
Geography
The region covers 10,794 km² almost two-thirds of which is mountainous. The remainder of the land consists of hills sloping to a narrow plain that runs for most of the 129 kilometre long Adriatic coastline. The Apennine mountain chain runs through the Abruzzo and high points are Corno Grande (Gran Sasso massif) (2914m) and Monte Amaro (Maiella-group) (2795m). The main rivers are the Aterno-Pescara, the Sangro and the Tronto.
Nature
One third of the region is designated as national or regional park. The following parks lie, wholly or partially, within Abruzzo:
* Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise (Abruzzo National Park)
o Lago di Barrea (Barrea Lake Wetlands)
* Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga (National Park of the Gran Sasso)
* Parco Nazionale della Majella (National Park of the Majella)
* Parco Naturale Regionale Sirente-Velino (Sirente Velino Regional Park)
The protected areas are environmentally important and are home to rare flora and fauna, such as the brown bear, the wolf and the chamois.
Tourism
Many people contend that 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.
Cities and towns
Some towns in Abruzzo include L'Aquila, Atri, Chieti, Pescara, Teramo, Vasto, Avezzano, Giulianova, Sulmona, Lanciano, Montesilvano, Francavilla al Mare, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Penne, Castel di Sangro and, smaller in size, Capestrano, Roccamorice, Lettomanopello, San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, Loreto Aprutino, Caporciano, Tortoreto, Alba Adriatica, Pescasseroli, Collelongo, Villavallelonga, Gissi, Isola del Gran Sasso, Rocca di Mezzo near Campo Felice, a ski resort in the Gran Sasso Mountains, Ovindoli, another ski resort near the Velino mountain, Roccaraso, the first ski resort in South-Central Italy located near Castel di Sangro and San Benedetto in Perillis.