Sulmona

Sulmona is a secluded and somewhat overlooked small city in Abruzzo. Surrounded by imposing mountains at about four hundred metres above sea level, it doesn't feel like it has 25,000 inhabitants. It is close to the ski resorts of Roccaraso and the beaches around Pescara. Sulmona is one of the oldest towns in Abruzzo, with many buildings from the Middle Ages or earlier. It is well known for being the native town of the poet Ovid.

• Cattedrale di San Panfilo. Dating from 1075 this cathedral shows layer upon layer of architectural renovations after successive earthquakes.
• Piazza XX Settembre. One of the main squares of the city, bustling with people during the early evenings. A bronze statue of the Roman poet Ovid takes up the centre of the square.
• Piazza Garibaldi The largest square in the town, featuring a large Baroque fountain and the location of weekly markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
• Palazzo Annunziata Palace and a museum complex depicting the city's Roman history.
• Chiesa di SS. Annunziata. Beautiful Baroque architecture with exquisite interior.
• Church of Santa Maria della Tomba is a beautifully restored church constructed in the location of a pagan temple for Jove, the 14th century Porta Napoli.
• Aqueduct is a striking part of the main square and dates back to 1256. Santa Chiara monastery - Museum of Modern Art and a collection of embroidered clothes worn by priests.

Cattedrale di San Panfilo. Dating from 1075 this cathedral shows layer upon layer of architectural renovations after successive earthquakes.

Piazza XX Settembre. One of the main squares of the city, bustling with people during the early evenings. A bronze statue of the Roman poet Ovid takes up the centre of the square.

Piazza Garibaldi The largest square in the town, featuring a large Baroque fountain and the location of weekly markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Palazzo Annunziata Palace and a museum complex depicting the city's Roman history.

Chiesa di SS. Annunziata. Beautiful Baroque architecture with exquisite interior.

Church of Santa Maria della Tomba is a beautifully restored church constructed in the location of a pagan temple for Jove, the 14th century Porta Napoli.

Aqueduct is a striking part of the main square and dates back to 1256.

• Cafe's, restaurants, bars. The old town is full of cafes and bars and is great for hanging out during the morning and late afternoon, and especially in the evening.
• Passeggiata, Corso Ovidio. Between 6-8PM and after dinner at about 11PM. The disappearing tradition of walking the main street is alive and strong in Sulmona. Corso Ovidio gets very busy with the daily passeggiata, but especially at weekends and on holidays. Great for people watching.
• Giostra Cavalleresca. In the last week of July there is a reenactment of the classic Renaissance jousting competition with lots of period costumes, music and hearty food. The whole town is taken over and everyone gets involved.
• Camerata Musicale Sulmonese, Via dei sardi, 9 (Concerts usually held in L'Annunziata, +39 0864-212207. The Camerata Musicale Sulmonese organise a series of concerts from classical to opera to jazz.
• Sulmona film festival, Via Aragona, 14 - 67039 Sulmona. A yearly event in November, takes over the Cinema Teatro Pacifico and a few other venues to show local, Italian and international film. €10 for all films.
• Pacifico cinema, Via Roma 27, +39 0864-210953. Usually shows popular Italian films.

Cafe's, restaurants, bars. The old town is full of cafes and bars and is great for hanging out during the morning and late afternoon, and especially in the evening.

Passeggiata, Corso Ovidio. Between 6-8PM and after dinner at about 11PM. The disappearing tradition of walking the main street is alive and strong in Sulmona. Corso Ovidio gets very busy with the daily passeggiata, but especially at weekends and on holidays. Great for people watching.

Giostra Cavalleresca. In the last week of July there is a reenactment of the classic Renaissance jousting competition with lots of period costumes, music and hearty food. The whole town is taken over and everyone gets involved.

Camerata Musicale Sulmonese, Via dei sardi, 9 (Concerts usually held in L'Annunziata, +39 0864-212207. The Camerata Musicale Sulmonese organise a series of concerts from classical to opera to jazz.

Sulmona film festival, Via Aragona, 14 - 67039 Sulmona. A yearly event in November, takes over the Cinema Teatro Pacifico and a few other venues to show local, Italian and international film. €10 for all films.

Pacifico cinema, Via Roma 27, +39 0864-210953. Usually shows popular Italian films.

• “Confetti of Sulmona” and the Pelino House. Lots of shops along the main street sell "Confetti", the local speciality of highly colourful candy-coated almonds. The almonds (or sometimes chocolate or other nuts) may be wired together to look like a daisy, and given to guests attending a wedding. The Pelino museum and factory can be visited for free on Via Stazione Introdacqua 55.
• Boutiques of Corso Ovidio. The main street is lined with fashion boutiques, from large names such as Sisley and Benetton to local brands like Carpisa and Chagall. Plenty of shoe shops.
• Markets, Piazza Garibaldi. The weekly markets sell vegetables, meats and local produce, as well as a hit-and-miss selection of furniture and antiques. Look out for local farmers and their families with a couple of jars of honey or a few cloves of garlic for sale on an upturned crate.

“Confetti of Sulmona” and the Pelino House. Lots of shops along the main street sell "Confetti", the local speciality of highly colourful candy-coated almonds. The almonds (or sometimes chocolate or other nuts) may be wired together to look like a daisy, and given to guests attending a wedding. The Pelino museum and factory can be visited for free on Via Stazione Introdacqua 55.

Boutiques of Corso Ovidio. The main street is lined with fashion boutiques, from large names such as Sisley and Benetton to local brands like Carpisa and Chagall. Plenty of shoe shops.

Markets, Piazza Garibaldi. The weekly markets sell vegetables, meats and local produce, as well as a hit-and-miss selection of furniture and antiques. Look out for local farmers and their families with a couple of jars of honey or a few cloves of garlic for sale on an upturned crate.

• Cantina Di Biffi, Via Barbato, 1, 67039 Sulmona. A very family run affair, Biffi won't usually give you a menu, offering instead daily specialities cooked by his mum. Excellent selection of local wines. Closed on Mondays €30-60 per head.
• Osteria Il tempo perso, Vico del Vecchio 7, 67039 Sulmona. An excellent pizzeria (with fantastic tasting dough) popular with a young crowd, with local wines and some exotic beers. €15-30 per head.
• Il Vecchio Muro Ristorante Pizzeria - good pizzas at a reasonable price - Via Manlio D'Eramo, 20bis, 0864 50595.
• Ristorante Clemente - the 12 samples of Abruzzo antipasto is a meal in itself, friendly service, no English spoken - Vico Quercian 5, 0864 52284.

Cantina Di Biffi, Via Barbato, 1, 67039 Sulmona. A very family run affair, Biffi won't usually give you a menu, offering instead daily specialities cooked by his mum. Excellent selection of local wines. Closed on Mondays €30-60 per head.

Osteria Il tempo perso, Vico del Vecchio 7, 67039 Sulmona. An excellent pizzeria (with fantastic tasting dough) popular with a young crowd, with local wines and some exotic beers. €15-30 per head.

• Sciazza. Bar and gelateria with their own brand of ice creams. Also Panini and pastries, closed on Thursdays
• Cafe des Artistes. Local wines, hot chocolate in the winter. Free Wi-Fi.
• Enoteca Bono vino&caffe, Via P.Mazara n. 18 Sulmona, +39 086452653. A good selection of wines. 70.00.

Sciazza. Bar and gelateria with their own brand of ice creams. Also Panini and pastries, closed on Thursdays

Cafe des Artistes. Local wines, hot chocolate in the winter. Free Wi-Fi.

Enoteca Bono vino&caffe, Via P.Mazara n. 18 Sulmona, +39 086452653. A good selection of wines. 70.00.

The Sulmona Tourist Office is located inside the Annunziata di Sulmona building on Corso Ovidio. They are friendly and have free Wi-Fi. +39 0864 210216.

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• Walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, skiing in the local hills and mountains
• Day trip to the beaches of Pescara
• Regular local buses to Bugnara, Introdacqua, Pacentro and Scanno for exploring other hilltowns and hiking - timetables at the Info Centre, tickets from the tobaccanist, find out which side of the main park the bus will leave from - there are two bus-stops one on each side.