Teramo, A province of Abruzzo
For those visiting this area for the first time the Province of Teramo is situated in the north eastern side of Abruzzo with the Adriatic coast to the east and the Apennines to the west. The north borders with the province of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche and the south with the major city of Pescara.
With good road links to Rome, about 90 minutes by car this area of Abruzzo has always been popular as a holiday destination with the Italians. The coastal areas are well developed with good facilities and the beaches clean and child safe as there is a very long shallow run out from the beach. During the summer months the small towns along the coast become quite busy and there are plenty of events and festivals here for all to enjoy. Outside the main Italian holiday period of August the pace is slower but still with plenty going on, there are many renowned seafood restaurants, most of the coastal area has cycle paths alongside the beach, plenty of shops and plenty of sun.
Set back from the coast , often on hilltops are the original villages which made up the coastal ports. These provide an escape if you choose from the bustle of the newer coastal villages with their more relaxed life and pretty often medieval centres.
Further inland towards the city of Teramo life changes again, here the quieter rural life still exists, often based around the weekly markets and the local festivals. The landscape is still gently rolling often with vineyards and olive groves dotted around. Pretty small towns that have not been taken over by the coastal pace of life. There are many hidden gems here to look out for and if you do decide to move to Abruzzo one of the main joys are those trips of discovery, a hidden away agriturismo or a wonderful cantina to buy your wine direct from. Even just the feeling as you come to a bend on a hill and can look for miles either off to the Gran Sasso and its towering peaks or the sparkling glow of the Adriatic in the distance. It will feel like home soon enough but you will rarely come to take it for granted.
The city of Teramo has a wonderful historic centre dominated by the Duomo and the main square. Many of the areas within the old walls are pedestrianised and the city has a friendly open feeling. With a theatre, cinemas, museums and exhibitions it is the cultural centre of the area. More than that it is also well known for its festivals throughout the year ,the specialist markets during festival time and the weekly market day on when the town centre becomes a bustling hive of activity. Evenings and Sundays you will find families strolling the main streets, chatting and stopping at one of the pavement cafes, dogs on leads out for walks, children playing in the squares.
Inland towards the mountains from Teramo the villages are perched a bit higher on the hills, there are still olive groves and vineyards, but now they are perched on slightly steeper hills. The presence in the background of the gran corno. The highest mountain in the peninsula of Italy provides an outstanding backdrop. From these hills you may still see the glistening sea while because of their height the mountains now seem so close. Life here is much more simple, the villages less developed but there is always a welcome here for the incoming homebuyer. They realise this is the new life blood of their area. They welcome the fact that people choose to live in what has been their home for many generations and they are more than generous with their welcome.
You are now getting into the real mountain areas, mostly protected under the national park rules. with many miles of exceptional walks ,a flora and fauna unequalled elsewhere in the world. This area is the gem of the region, undiscovered by even many Italians who are now slowly beginning to appreciate the wealth of what they have just on their doorstep. Many new sustainable tourist centres have been set up here where now even Romans stop and stay rather than just a mad rush to the coast. Supported by the protective laws the development of this area is slow and sustained by well thought out planning. In the past life here was hard, many times in the depth of winter cut off for weeks at a time. Life moves on , although here it is sometimes harder to see, but better roads and the new green tourists have bought benefits to those that live here. Many crafts that might have been lost, small farms producing specialist cheeses, farm houses now that welcome in guests and cook wonderful food. Small towns like Castelli, renowned for its pottery, the ski centres around Pietracamela. The busy ski season and the summer walking holiday. Forest guides can lead you to areas where you can still spot the wolves that roam in the high park.
So within this province of Abruzzo you will find that if you drive an hour in a car you can arrive from the beach to the ski fields. It offers a wide variety of choice, you do not have to feel cut off in a remote rural property unless that is your choice. You can choose the crisper mountain air or the hotter coastal climate. You can choose an area between the two with light breezes that spring up in the evening to keep the air fresh and in the winter an open fire will take away the chill. The choice is yours and we are here to help you make the right choice.
This area of Abruzzo offers for those looking for a rural retreat or a house by the sea,a town house in Teramo the city,or a farmhouse surrounded by green and tranquil fields not only the opportunity to purchase the ideal property,but to live in one of the safest and natural areas of Italy.This province of Abruzzo has always been popular and well served with good schools and sustained development. The wonderful climate on this side of the mountains has always been renowned.Teramo is the most popular of the provinces of Abruzzo ith Italians, for good reason.