cindyjo

Hello, have added one week in Abruzzo to our Italy trip. Have narrowed down our base to Caporciano or Bugnara. Any thoughts on either of these? We will have a rental car. Thank you.

susoir

Since you'll have a car, either of those locations will probably be a fine base for exploring Abruzzo. I'm guessing you must be renting a house or apartment, since these are both small villages not likely to have much in the way of hotels or even B&Bs.

I haven't been to Caporciano, but I rode my bike past Bugnara on a ride from Sulmona to Scanno last year, and it's in a nice location. From Bugnara, you can easily jump on the autostrada and be on the coast at Pescara in about an hour, if you want to spend some time near the coast.

I'd probably pick Bugnara because it's only about five miles from Sulmona, an absolutely heavenly little city surrounded by mountains. From Bugnara, you could go into Sulmona in the evenings to participate in the passeggiata, from 6 to 8 p.m. every day, when everyone strolls up and down the main street and through the adjacent park before heading home for dinner. Although you'd be staying in a small village, you'd have the city nearby for food shopping, restaurants, etc.

Also close to Bugnara is Scanno, perhaps the most perfect medieval village I've seen in ten trips to Italy. The road to Scanno is also stunning, and Lake Scanno is apparently a popular recreation area in the summer.

The nearest city to Caporciano is L'Aquila, which, from what I saw on a brief visit last May, unfortunately has a long way to go in the slow rebuilding process after the 2009 earthquake.

From either base, you will be able to drive up into the spectacular mountains, and explore the almost endless supply of beautiful towns and villages that Abruzzo has to offer. I absolutely fell in love with Abruzzo, and I'll be back there again in a few months, this time staying in Lanciano to explore a new part of the region.

cindyjo

Thank you, susoir - we were leaning toward Bugnara and your reply reinforced our choice. We are definitely interested in some cycling, so if you have any suggestions for good routes or not good routes, please pass them on.

susoir

Hi cindyjo,

Here's a link to a report I did for the cycling website Podium Cafe about cycling in Abruzzo. It includes descriptions and pictures of two rides in the Sulmona area, one from Sulmona to Scanno, and another from Sulmona through Pacentro and up into Maiella National Park.

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2010/11/24...-abruzzo-italy

cindyjo

Susoir, we had previously seen your report in our meanderings online and it pointed us in the direction to Abruzzo. Thank you!

susoir

Wow, that's really nice to hear!

I hope you have as much fun cycling in Abruzzo as we did!