Cycling is never just about cycling. Behind every bike race—obviously the headline attraction—lies a vibrant economic and social fabric in motion. Every event is an opportunity to discover a region in all its richness: traditions, iconic landmarks, local flavours and breathtaking landscapes.

That is especially true of Il Giro d’Abruzzo. Within just a few kilometres, this remarkable region brings together the Adriatic coast, the Apennine mountains, historic towns and cities, and a wealth of distinct local cultures. Abruzzo has become a true land of great cycling—more so than ever in recent years, having hosted virtually every major race on the Italian calendar—but this is just a fraction of what this region has to offer.

Abruzzo is… flavour

Abruzzo tells its story first and foremost through its cuisine. Arrosticini, the region’s iconic skewers of flame-grilled lamb, embody the pastoral traditions of its inland communities and have become a true social ritual. Mazzarelle—delicate rolls of lamb offal wrapped in lettuce or endive leaves—are among the signature dishes of the Teramo area, preserving recipes passed down through generations. Completing the experience is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, the region’s world-famous red wine, rich and full-bodied, produced among rolling hills sheltered by the Apennines and open to the breezes of the Adriatic Sea.

Abruzzo is… nature

Abruzzo is the land of the Marsican brown bear, a rare subspecies found only in the Central Apennines and one of the region’s most treasured symbols of wildlife. Its main sanctuary is the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, one of three national parks in the region alongside Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park and Majella National Park. Vast forests, high plateaus and deep valleys provide a haven for wolves, Apennine chamois and golden eagles, making Abruzzo home to one of Italy’s richest and most remarkable natural heritages.

Abruzzo is… mountains and legends

The Gran Sasso and the Majella stand as Abruzzo’s great mountain guardians. The former rises to the 2,912-metre summit of Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines, while the latter reaches 2,793 metres at Monte Amaro. Viewed from the east, the silhouette of the Gran Sasso resembles a sleeping man, giving rise to the legend of the “Sleeping Giant”. According to local folklore, he was the son of the nymph Maia, who died after his mother carried him to these mountains. She was later buried on the massif opposite, which is said to have taken her name: the Majella, affectionately known by the people of Abruzzo as the “Mother Mountain”.

Abruzzo is… sea, lakes and rivers

At more than 900 metres above sea level, Lake Scanno is Abruzzo’s largest natural lake. Formed by an ancient landslide that blocked the Tasso Valley, it is renowned for its distinctive heart shape, visible from a specific panoramic viewpoint. But Abruzzo is also the Adriatic. It is the Costa dei Trabocchi, where centuries-old wooden fishing platforms stretch out over the sea, and Torre del Cerrano, a 16th-century watchtower that has become the symbol of a protected marine area of sandy seabeds, dunes and pine forests. Here, the sea and the mountains are so close that it is possible to ski while looking out over the Adriatic, or swim with the peaks of the Apennines rising on the horizon.

Abruzzo is… history

Civitella del Tronto is home to one of the most imposing fortresses in southern Italy. For centuries, it served as a strategic stronghold guarding the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Naples and became the last Bourbon fortress to surrender, in March 1861, during the unification of Italy. Further south, at around 1,500 metres above sea level, Rocca Calascio overlooks the Navelli Plain and the Tirino Valley. Expanded during the 15th century and made internationally famous by the cinema, it is one of Italy’s highest fortifications and one of Abruzzo’s most iconic landmarks.