Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report
The most popular ski resorts, the updated snow report and useful information on how to find lifts or book accommodation for your winter holiday
By car
Getting there
- From the A14: the Lanciano exit serves Lanciano, Castel Frentano and Casoli; from Ortona you climb to Crecchio and Tollo.
- From Rome: A24 and A25 to Chieti, then the roads to Bucchianico, Villamagna and Orsogna.
- Without a car: Lanciano has TUA trains and buses; for the smaller villages a car is best.
The village
Lanciano 265 m
Altitude
265 m
Municipality
Lanciano
Ancient capital of the Frentani and a medieval trade-fair town, it draws pilgrims to the Eucharistic miracle kept in the church of San Francesco. The old town, which has survived intact, is divided into the districts of Lancianovecchia, Civitanova, Borgo and Sacca.
Things to do
- The Trabocchi Coast, a quarter of an hour away
- Castel Frentano and its bocconotti, next door
- Guardiagrele and the Majella
- Chieti
Did you know? On 23 December “La Squilla” (the bell) opens the Christmas season; in September the town re-enacts the Mastrogiurato, the magistrate of the old fairs, up to the feast of the Madonna del Ponte on 16 September.
Local food
- Pizza e foje — Wild greens sautéed with garlic and chilli and served with cornbread.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Bocconotti from Castel Frentano — Small shortcrust cases filled with almonds, chocolate and cinnamon.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Lanciano: 0872 7071
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Lanciano
- Ribot 1991 Via Milano, 60, Lanciano · 0872 712205
- Le Vecchie Mura Corso Roma, 92, Lanciano · 333 867 5889
- Abruzzo Gourmet Piazza Plebiscito, 67-69, Lanciano · 0872 466471
- Cottabo – Pratiche di Cibo e Vino Via Ettore Fieramosca, 2, Lanciano · 351 621 2488
- Sciapò Pecora & Co Largo del Mancino, 17, Lanciano · 329 111 2685
- Marè Ristorante Via per Fossacesia, 62, Lanciano · 379 278 8110
- Trattorias and restaurants in Lanciano: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Bucchianico 360 m
Altitude
360 m
Municipality
Bucchianico
A hill village south of Chieti, birthplace of Saint Camillus de Lellis, founder of the Camillians and patron saint of nurses. An old olive mill preserved as it was houses the Olive Oil Museum; around it are the vineyards of Villamagna DOC.
Things to do
Did you know? The Feast of the Banderesi recalls a 14th-century siege: legend says Saint Urban suggested in a dream that a few armoured men should run along the walls, to make the enemy think the defenders were countless.
Local food
- Villamagna DOC — The Montepulciano of Villamagna, Vacri and Bucchianico, between the Majella and the sea.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Pallotte cacio e ova — Meatless balls of bread, eggs and cheese, fried and then simmered in tomato sauce.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Bucchianico: 0871 382532
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Bucchianico
- Trattorias and restaurants in Bucchianico: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Orsogna 432 m
Altitude
432 m
Municipality
Orsogna
A village of olive oil and wine in the hills between Chieti and Lanciano, with the Majella in the background. It is famous for the Feast of the Talami, living biblical tableaux paraded through the streets.
Things to do
Did you know? The Talami are seven large scenes from the Bible, with actors standing still in pose; above each float is a gilded wooden sun with a little girl playing the Madonna del Rifugio. They parade in the days after Easter and on 15 August.
Local food
- Pallotte cacio e ova — Meatless balls of bread, eggs and cheese, fried and then simmered in tomato sauce.
- Pizza e foje — Wild greens sautéed with garlic and chilli and served with cornbread.
- Pasta alla chitarra — Egg pasta cut on the «chitarra», Abruzzo’s traditional wire frame.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Orsogna: 0871 869765
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Orsogna
- Altamira Via Ortonese, 18, Orsogna · 0871 86398
- Le Mignole Bio Agriturismo Contrada Arenale, Orsogna · 0871 869190
- Trattorias and restaurants in Orsogna: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Casoli 378 m
Altitude
378 m
Municipality
Casoli
A village gathered around the ducal castle, which grew from a 9th-century watchtower; inside is the room where Gabriele D’Annunzio used to stay, covered with his mottoes. From here the view sweeps over the Majella and the Aventino valley.
Things to do
Did you know? For the feast of Santa Reparata on 8 October, people from the outlying districts parade in costume carrying their ‘donativi’: farm produce in copper basins or on wooden pyramids, later sold to pay for the feast.
Local food
- Altino sweet pepper — Small red horn peppers, dried on strings and ground: a Slow Food Presidium.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Ventricina del Vastese salami — Large pieces of pork with sweet pepper, in a pig’s bladder: a Slow Food Presidium.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Casoli: 0872 99281
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Casoli
- La Torretta Contrada Torretta, 8, Casoli · 0872 981743
- Il Ternetto (pizzeria e braceria) Via Guarenna Nuova, 204, Casoli · 338 332 4204
- Trattorias and restaurants in Casoli: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Crecchio 208 m
Altitude
208 m
Municipality
Crecchio
A small medieval village dominated by its ducal castle, home to the Museum of Byzantine and Early Medieval Abruzzo. The surrounding hills are covered in vineyards and olive groves, a few kilometres from the sea at Ortona.
Things to do
Did you know? On 9 September 1943, fleeing towards Brindisi, King Victor Emmanuel III, the queen, Prince Umberto and Badoglio stopped at Crecchio castle: the fate of the monarchy was decided here.
Local food
- Colline Teatine PDO olive oil — The extra virgin oil of the Chieti hills, between the Majella and the sea, from the Gentile di Chieti olive.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC — The region’s signature red, from the Montepulciano grape: with arrosticini, lamb and mutton.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Crecchio: 0871 941662
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Crecchio
- Trattorias and restaurants in Crecchio: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Tollo 152 m
Altitude
152 m
Municipality
Tollo
A wine town between Chieti and Ortona, home to Cantina Tollo and the small Tullum DOCG. It was rebuilt after the destruction of the Second World War, when it lay on the front line.
Things to do
Did you know? On the first Sunday of August Tollo re-enacts the Turkish siege of 1566: costume parades and over fifty actors around a wooden tower built in the square. On San Pasquale’s day, 17 May, people eat ‘toll’ e fave’ (garlic shoots and broad beans).
Local food
- Tullum DOCG — Tollo’s tiny DOCG: Montepulciano, Pecorino and Passerina from the Chieti hills.
- Pallotte cacio e ova — Meatless balls of bread, eggs and cheese, fried and then simmered in tomato sauce.
- Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC — Abruzzo’s classic white, with fish, vegetables and mushroom dishes.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Tollo: 0871 962633
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Tollo
- Trattorias and restaurants in Tollo: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Villamagna 255 m
Altitude
255 m
Municipality
Villamagna
The name comes from the ‘villa magna’, the large Roman farm that once stood here. Today it is known for its red Villamagna DOC; in the village are the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, rich in Baroque stucco, and Palazzo Battaglini.
Things to do
- Villamagna DOC, the village red
- Bucchianico, Saint Camillus’s village
- The Majella and Passo Lanciano
Did you know? Together with Vacri and Bucchianico, Villamagna built up a cooperative wine production that gave rise to the Villamagna DOC.
Local food
- Villamagna DOC — The Montepulciano of Villamagna, Vacri and Bucchianico, between the Majella and the sea.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Abruzzo tarallucci — Sweet anise rings from the Chieti area, first boiled and then baked.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Villamagna: 0871 300110
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Villamagna
- Trattorias and restaurants in Villamagna: search on TripAdvisor
The village
Castel Frentano 400 m
Altitude
400 m
Municipality
Castel Frentano
A village overlooking the Sangro valley, close to Lanciano, with its walls and bastion, a viewpoint and the Baroque shrine of Santa Maria della Selva. It is the home of bocconotti, shortcrust tartlets filled with chocolate and almonds.
Things to do
Did you know? Until 1862 the village was called Castel Nuovo: it changed its name to avoid confusion with Italy’s many Castelnuovos, choosing to honour the ancient Frentani.
Local food
- Bocconotti from Castel Frentano — Small shortcrust cases filled with almonds, chocolate and cinnamon.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Colline Teatine PDO olive oil — The extra virgin oil of the Chieti hills, between the Majella and the sea, from the Gentile di Chieti olive.
Useful numbers
- Municipality of Castel Frentano: 0872 55931
- Emergencies and mountain rescue: 112 · 118
- municipality website
Where to eat in Castel Frentano
- Trattorias and restaurants in Castel Frentano: search on TripAdvisor
At the table
Food and traditions
Local dishes and products, with the recipes and guides on our site.
The Chieti hills are the land of Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Colline Teatine olive oil. At the table: cavatelli and tacconelle, cheese-and-egg balls, pizz’ e foje, and among the sweets bocconotti, Guardiagrele’s ‘sise delle monache’ and tarallucci.
- Cavatelli and tacconelle — Homemade pastas of the Chieti area, with meat sauce or with pulses.
- Pallotte cacio e ova — Meatless balls of bread, eggs and cheese, fried and then simmered in tomato sauce.
- Pizza e foje — Wild greens sautéed with garlic and chilli and served with cornbread.
- Bocconotti from Castel Frentano — Small shortcrust cases filled with almonds, chocolate and cinnamon.
- Sise delle monache — Guardiagrele’s pastry: three-peaked sponge filled with custard and dusted with icing sugar.
- Abruzzo tarallucci — Sweet anise rings from the Chieti area, first boiled and then baked.
- Colline Teatine PDO olive oil — The extra virgin oil of the Chieti hills, between the Majella and the sea, from the Gentile di Chieti olive.
- Tullum DOCG — Tollo’s tiny DOCG: Montepulciano, Pecorino and Passerina from the Chieti hills.
- Villamagna DOC — The Montepulciano of Villamagna, Vacri and Bucchianico, between the Majella and the sea.