Appennino Abruzzese

The Appennino Abruzzese is the Abruzzo segment of the central Apennine mountain chain in Italy, containing some of the highest Apennine peaks and extensive protected areas. The region includes major massifs such as the Gran Sasso and the Majella and is an important area for alpine landscapes within peninsular Italy.

Outdoor activities concentrate on hiking, mountaineering, skiing and wildlife observation; the area is noted for its high alpine pastures, limestone cliffs and endemic plants and animals. Several national and regional parks protect large tracts of this mountain environment and traditional pastoral land use.

Geologically part of the Apennine orogeny, the Abruzzo Apennines show folded and faulted limestone and dolomite massifs with deeply incised valleys. Human settlement in the highlands has long combined transhumant pastoralism with small mountain communities.

The Apennino Abruzzese occupies the central portion of Italy’s Apennines within the Abruzzo administrative region, lying between the Adriatic coast and the interior highlands and reachable from cities such as L’Aquila and Pescara.

• Highest peak: Corno Grande is the highest point of the Abruzzo Apennines at 2,912 metres, offering summer alpine hikes and a small ski area on its slopes in winter.

What to See #

• Gran Sasso (Corno Grande): The Gran Sasso massif includes **Corno Grande**, the highest peak in the Apennines at 2,912 metres, and features high alpine terrain, limestone cliffs and glacial cirques that attract mountaineers and hikers.
• Majella: The Majella massif is characterised by a compact limestone plateau, deep gorges and high pastures; it supports endemic flora and traditional pastoral landscapes used for seasonal grazing.