Surroundings
Abruzzo is also called the green heart of Europe. Large parts of the rugged landscape are occupied by national parks and nature reserves. With over 125 kilometers of coastline, rolling hills and mountain peaks up to 3,000 meters high, there is something for everyone in this scenically and culturally diverse region. The cinematic backdrops, with coasts framing fascinating mountain landscapes, offer ideal conditions for a sports and relaxation vacation. Clean air, starry nights, romantic mountain landscapes, dense forests and torrents, as well as diverse animal and plant species, make a vacation in Abruzzo a great memory.
Palombaro
The villa is located in the Italian municipality of Palombaro. The municipality has just under 1000 inhabitants and is located about 25 kilometers southeast of the city of Chieti. Despite the small size of the municipality, the most important facilities can be found in the village, such as a small grocery store, a café and bar, the post office, a pharmacy and an excellent restaurant.
For a pleasant stay at Villa Belvedere you will have to rely on a car. The nearest airport is the Aeroporto di Pescara/Aeroporto d'Abruzzo in Pescara (about 60 minutes). An alternative is the airports in Rome or Naples (about 3 hours).
Everything important nearby
In Italy there are many shopping facilities for daily needs. There are large and small supermarket chains with different food retail designations. Usually the smallest shopping option is the alimentari, a kind of corner store. Supermercato means supermarket, but says nothing about the actual size; it varies from place to place. In addition, many producers offer direct sales, here you can find really high quality and regional products. In many slightly larger towns, a kind of weekly market is held regularly. Some specialties, such as Italian olive oil, are also good to take home from vacation.
In the following map you can find all important places in the vicinity. With a click on the inserted markers you can get more information and start the direct route planning with Google-Maps.
Shopping
For basic needs there is a family-run small store "Generi Alimentari e Prodotti per La Casa Carosella" directly in Palombaro, where you can find everything you need. There is also a tobacco store "Tabacchi" and a pharmacy "Farmacia" directly in Palombaro.
The nearest supermarket is the Conad City - Supermarket in Casoli. In the surrounding villages you can find other bigger supermarkets, for example a "Tigre" in Guardiagrele, a "Eurospin" in Casoli or a "Despar" and a "Tigre" in Fara San Martino. The nearest ATM is in Fara San Martino. We have also marked the nearest supermarket and ATM in the interactive map.
Restaurants
Italian cuisine in general, but also the restaurants and localities in Abruzzo, focus on high-quality and local products. In most cases, the food is prepared with a lot of passion and handwork. In addition to Italian classics such as antipasti, pasta and pizza, a so-called "trattoria" often offers local specialties in a friendly and familiar atmosphere. The exquisite dishes are usually accompanied by an exquisite selection of wines. Hospitality is very important here, so that even possible language barriers are no problem.
In the immediate vicinity is the local restaurant "Trattoria dal Pagano", the owners are very friendly and the food is homemade and tastes excellent. The climb up to the restaurant is easily done in 15 minutes on foot, and the descent on the way back is much easier.
By car, you can reach numerous excellent places to eat. A small selection:
- Braceria LA TORRETTA Casoli (Lago Sant’Angelo): Direct view of Lake Casoli, great steak selection with high quality, regional dishes.
- La Villetta (Fara San Martino): Great antipasti, pasta and pizza.
- Il Bucaniere (Casoli): Classic country trattoria, family friendly, authentic menu offerings with matching wine pairings.
- La Lanterna (Casoli): Excellent pizzeria.
- Agriturismo L'Uliveto (Limiti/Palombaro): Fixed menus with wine accompaniment. Very local or even homegrown products are used.
- Villa Maiella (Guardiagrele): Top cuisine with awards, high-quality menus and wines.
- Hostaria Elisa (Bocca di Valle): Small, cozy restaurant in the beautiful little village of Bocca di Valle.
- Cascina di Mont'Alto (Gessopalena): magnificent cuisine, high-quality products.
In general, the local cuisine is excellent and most products are homemade or come directly from the region. Reservations are recommended in any case, closed parties or changes in opening hours are possible depending on the period.
Activities
With a variety of exciting excursions and beautiful sights around Abruzzo, you certainly won't get bored. Some hiking highlights are waiting for you, other destinations can be reached by a sportive bike tour or you can explore the beautiful small villages. The historical villages are mostly situated on hills and offer breathtaking views.
Optionally, a professional and mobile wellness service can also be arranged. Directly in the villa, massages, yoga and healthy food can be offered by arrangement.
Excursion Destinations
In the vicinity there are several possibilities for special activities. A small selection:
- Casoli and Guardiagrele are both beautiful hilltop towns worth visiting.
- Fara San Martino offers a beautiful and interesting hike through the San Martino Gorge, in addition to a large pasta producer. The hiking route is signposted from Fara San Martino, but you can also find it on popular providers like "komoot". The route leads through a gorge with vertical walls and through a valley with a ruined monastery. For the hike you need a good basic condition as well as the appropriate equipment.
- Lama dei Peligni is a beautiful place with great views.
- Grotte del Cavalline: Here are fascinating caves to which a cable car leads up.
- Abruzzo Adventures in Palena offers various adventurous activities. In addition to canyoning, rafting, trekking and horseback riding, the rental of e-bikes and tours with quads are offered. In winter there is also the possibility for tours for snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
- Parco Avventura Majella in Guardiagrele is a high ropes course, suitable for all ages.
- Aqualand del Vasto in Vasto is an adventure pool with slides and water activities.
- Belvedere Balzolo in Pennapiedimonte offers a viewing platform worth seeing in a mountain village with an excellent hiking trail and café.
- Ruins of the Church of Saint Giles in Gessopalenasare ruins of an ancient village to explore. Good view of the village of Lama del Peligini.
- Castello Medioevale di Roccascalegna in Roccascalegna is a place with castle grounds to visit.
- Vasto is a small town on the Adriatic Sea.
- Lago di Bomba is a natural, beautiful lake.
- Iuvanum Parco e Museo Archeologico is an archaeological area with museum.
Check early for opening hours, reservations and bookings in advance may be necessary.
Beaches
There are also several beaches on the Adriatic coast that can be reached by car. A selection:
- Fossacesia (about 40 minutes) is the closest beach. It is a pebble beach. The sea is clean, great pizzerias and ice cream parlors.
- Le Morge (about 45 minutes) is a large sandy beach that slowly descends into the sea. Also good for children. Many cafes and sun loungers available.
- Riserva Naturale die Punta Aderci in Vasto (about 60 minutes) is a popular pebble beach in the nature reserve, surrounded by cliffs with panoramic views of the sea. The path to the beach is steep, no cafes and sunbeds available.
- Spiaggia del Turchino with a unique pebble and stone beach, clean and super clear water and old fishermen's huts.
Winter sports
In winter Villa Belvedere is a starting point for winter sports and some impeccable ski slopes nearby. A selection:
- Passo Lanciano (about 55 minutes) is a small ski area in the Majella National Park.
- Majelatta (about 55 minutes) is a ski area above the neighboring Passo Lanciano ski area.
- Roccaroso - Rivisondoli (about 60 minutes) is the largest ski area in the south of Italy.
- Vallefura Pescocostanzo (about 60 minutes) is a ski resort near the town of Pescocostanzo in the province of L'Aquilla.