We went a bit out of our way to stay in this particular place - home to a three star Michelin restaurant - and fortunately the drive there is quite gorgeous. Very hilly, castles and churches everywhere. The town of

**Roccascalegna is one of Abruzzo’s must-sees if you fancy a bit of castle hopping, more for its unusual setting than for its fortifications. The pictures are just as exciting as the experience. If you’re nearby, I’d stop for a visit,

**National Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo: Housed in a neoclassical villa in the Villa Comunale park, Abruzzo's chief archaeological museum displays a comprehensive collection of local finds, illuminating Chieti's three millennia of existence. While the primary focus is on the vanished

A 90 minute drive from Santo Stefano, really lovely roads and good scenery throughout. The town is tiny and on the edge of a gorge. Medieval streets, cute to explore. Next to the cathedral is an excellent restaurant, one of the

Abruzzo has some of the most evocative castles and Roman ruins in Italy. A favorite is ***Rocca di Calascio, considered to be one of the finest castles in the Apennines. Often the setting for historical films, the watchtower perched on

Cute town and a reasonable place to stop for lunch on the way from Rome. I wouldn’t make a huge effort to go here, but if you’re in the vicinity it has some charming features. The large town square is