Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a verdant gem on the eastern coast of Italy, midway down the country’s “boot.” The region is known for its wines, most famously montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and has miles of coastline on the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo also has the highest concentration of national parkland in Europe, including the stunning peaks of the Majella mountains, home to golden eagles and stunning wildflowers. 

Unlike in many other Italian regions, Abruzzo’s local food traditions were historically sheltered from influence from other cultures, making the food here distinctly Italian but with a local characteristic all its own. In fact, it was in the small Abruzzo town of Villa Santa Maria that the first Italian cooking school was established in the 16th century, giving the town the nickname “The Home of Chefs.” Every October, it hosts the Sagra dei Cuochi, the “festival of chefs,” where tens of thousands of Italian chefs gather to share ideas and, of course, plenty of food!