Some Geography of Italy The Italian peninsula is often described as a "boot". The various regions of the country are outlined from north to south and are often referred to when people describe where their families originated. Thus, from the region of This region can be found in the center of the boot, directly across from Rome, along the Adriatic Sea on the east coast. Members of our family came from Abruzzo, the Province of Chieti, the city of Lanciano. Today, the distance between Rome and Lanciano can be easily traveled by car or bus in a little more than three hours. In the 19th and 20th centuries when the citizens of Abruzzo left their homes to emigrate to America or Canada, they faced arduous travel over the mountainous roads of the Apennines to Naples. For citizens of central and southern Italy, the port of Naples was the point of departure for travel west. Documents of the members of our family who immigrated to this country will show that Naples played an important part in our family's history. Check the links that are contained in this web site to learn more about the city of Lanciano.
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Abruzzo's western border lies less than 50 miles due east of Rome. Abruzzo is located in the center of the Italian peninsula facing the Adriatic sea, which it follows along 93 miles of beaches and rocks. With an area of 4,156 sq mi, and bordered on the east by the Adriatic and on the west by the Apennine mountains, it is one of the most mountainous regions in Italy. The rivers, although numerous, are all seasonal except for the biggest – the Pescara and the Sangro. L'Aquila is the capital city of the Abruzzo region and the second largest city. The other provincial capitals are Pescara, which is Abruzzo's largest city and major port; Teramo and Chieti. Other large municipalities in Abruzzo include Avezzano, an industrial and high technology center. Vasto, Lanciano, and Sulmona are three other important industrial and touristic centers. The climate of Abruzzo is varied; warm and dry on the coast, with an alpine climate in the mountainous interior. Major roads and railway lines link the region to the south, west and north of Italy and the rest of Europe. In the interior of Abruzzo lies the 190 square mile Abruzzo National Park, where rare examples of Mediterranean flora and fauna survive, including chamois, wolves, bears, and golden eagles. Abruzzo holds many of Italy's best-preserved medieval and Renaissance hill towns. Many lie entirely within regional and national parks. Among the most well preserved are Castel del Monte and Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Between the two towns sits Rocca di Calascio, the ruin of an ancient fortress popular with film makers. Also within the Gran Sasso National Park is Castelli, an ancient pottery center whose artisans produced ceramics for most of the royal houses of Europe. Other medieval hill towns include Pacentro and Pescasseroli. Abruzzo's industrial sector is known for mechanical engineering, transportation equipment and telecommunications. Abruzzo also benefits from a wide variety of major institutes and factories involved in research in the fields of pharmaceutics, biomedicine, electronics, aerospace, and nuclear physics. Abruzzo has a thriving seaside and mountain tourism industry which makes up 20% of its revenue. Agricultural products include wine, cereals, sugar beet, potatoes, olives, vegetables, fruit and dairy products, saffron and liquorice. Abruzzo is most famous for its Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine. click here to learn more about Abruzzo at wikipedia.org
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Abruzzo come those who call themselves Abruzzese.
The Abruzzo Region