Hi and welcome to our blog. We think Abruzzo is truly a hidden gem in central Italy and and we want to use this blog to introduce you to some of its wonders. But first we thought we should take a moment to introduce ourselves. Nearly 20 years ago Corinne and I set off from New Zealand to see the world and have a grand adventure. We spent time travelling around South East Asia before settling in Brighton (England) but in 2020 we decided it was time for a change so for the second time in our lives we sold everything we owned and we moved. Eventually we landed in Abruzzo, often described as Italy's greenest region. People frequently ask us why we chose Abruzzo but it is more accurate to say Abruzzo chose us. We were driving along the motorway towards Abruzzo and all of a sudden the Gran Sasso massif came into view and we decided then and there that we absolutely had to make Abruzzo our home. The house we were going to view didn't work out but we were hooked so we set about finding the perfect little slice of Abruzzo to call our own.

Nestled between the Adriatic coast and the Apennines and untouched by the mass tourism seen in other parts of Italy, Abruzzo is a paradise for nature lovers, foodies and history lovers alike. A place where independent travellers can immerse themselves in the slow rhythm of the countryside and experience an authentic slice of Italian life, where the local food and wine traditions are strong, and the people are fiercely proud of their traditions and land. With three national parks (Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga and Parco Nazionale della Majella), 15 blue flag beaches and 26 of its villages on the list of Italy's most beautiful villages, there really is something for everyone.
A little bit about La Stradella...
We settled on the name La Stradella (the little road) after spending 6 months on our hands and knees rediscovering and bringing back to life the old cobblestone road that runs between the apartments and our house. It is unclear exactly how old the road is but it is said to be well over two hundred years old and was still showing on official council maps until 2009 when the ruin that was to become La Stradella was completely reconstructed and the official road was moved to run along side the boundary line of the property, even though in reality it hadn't been used for decades. The original building was a centuries old frantoio (olive press) that had long since stopped being used and several local families had been living in it. Over time the people moved on and the building fell into disrepair until in 2009 when a couple, with big dreams and a vision for how the building could be restored to create a unique accommodation space, began a complete reconstruction project to faithfully restore the building to its former beauty. Fast forward to 2021 when we purchased the property and it became our opportunity to turn our dream of a slower life, more in tune with the seasons and living closer to nature, into a reality. We have lots of plans for the future including sourdough bread and vegan cheese workshops (who doesn't like bread and cheese?) but for the moment we are focusing on creating a welcoming and comfortable space for people to use as a base for exploring the region. As they say around here piano piano (slowly slowly or, maybe more accurately in this instance, little by little)...

What next?
We want to give you a taste of what Abruzzo has to offer, from the beautiful coastline to the majestic mountains, and everything in between and hope that you too fall in love with its quiet, understated, rustic charm.

Whether you choose to fly into Abruzzo airport and rent a car or perhaps take the scenic two and a half hour drive from Rome, we would really love to share our little corner of the Abruzzo countryside with you one day soon!
Opmerkingen