Hostels in Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region in Southern Italy just east of Rome. It stretches from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea in the East. It is divided into four provinces, with its regional capital and second largest city L’Aquila located in the province of the same name. This “greenest region in Europe” has been inhabited by man since the Neolithic period and a third of its area is made up of greenery. In fact, the past decade has seen a sizable increase in tourism, with mostly Europeans, including Italians, visiting the many nature and wildlife reserves, national parks, beaches, and mountains. The ancient towns and castles are another popular point of attraction. To reach the region and travel about, there are airports, ports and many railways. The formerly poverty-riddled region has transformed itself into the first place of highest economic growth rate in all of Southern Italy.

For the budget-minded traveler, there are a ton of hostels throughout Abruzzio offering dormitory as well as private rooms, usually with shared bathroom facilities. Look for the words “Rifugio” and “Ostello” when looking for hostels in Abruzzio. Although a lot of them are a bit pricier than in many other European locations, Abruzzio’s hostels tend to earn an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from customers. Whether you like to hike through parks, go skiing in the mountains, dip your toes in one of the many lakes, or enjoy the Adriatic coastline, you will find an aptly located hostel to pursue your interests. You will mostly likely encounter kind, helpful hosts and savor the included breakfasts. Most of the hostel accommodations are more reminiscent of B&B’s and have a familial feel to them.

Once you have settled into the Abruzzio hostel of your choice, you are ready to enjoy what nature has to offer, admire the architecture and sculptures, cool off by a waterfall or brave one of the caves. If you don’t know where to begin, consider visiting one of the most popular sites in the region, Rocca Calascio. Here you can hike up a fortress built in the 10th century until you reach the mountaintop castle, or “Castello,” where you can indulge in enchanting views of the surrounding Apennine mountains as well as the age-old town of Calascio. When you make your way back down, you can take a look at the octagonal church of Santa Maria della Pieta. Once you reach the bottom, find a nice restaurant to enjoy a blissful dinner in this magical spot.

Handwritten by local expert for Abruzzo hostels Jakob Lombardi