Hi
due to this excellent forum my husband and I have just returned from an amazing holiday in Corvara and Bardolino on Lago Di Garda.
We want to return next summer July or September but try somewhere different.

Our last holiday was perfect: we just loved Corvara and spent our days getting a ski lift up different mountains, hiking, cycling, jumping in a glacial lake and eating at the amazing huts, we stayed in Hotel La Tambra a very well appointed family run hotel.

We loved riding our hired city bikes on the cycle path between Garda and Bardolino casually stopping for a swim or lunch and hired a boat for a day. We enjoyed shopping at the boutiques and finding local bars and restaurants but it was more touristy than the mountains. We don’t like crowds and it was difficult to find somewhere to swim. The lake was stunning especially in the evenings.
Very magical.

Can we find a similar experience in Abruzzo or Le Marche? Wd have around 2.5 weeks.

We love mountains and we love the sea. We like staying at one place for a few nights before moving on. We like good quality accommodation in an area that has sights and beautiful nature , coast within a fairly short distance.

We don’t need to see everything all in one visit and enjoying taking our time and getting to know our local area rather than driving for hours each day. We love morning and afternoon swims , stopping for coffee and pastries, nature, beautiful mountains and meadows, wandering around towns that don’t have masses of tourists and no one yelling at you to buy gelato and we enjoy looking around nice shops and having a drink in the evening with a beautiful outlook, We will hire a car.

Can anyone offer any ideas please? I’m going round in circles , both areas look amazing!

Abruzzo is a relatively large sparsely populated region. If you have a car you can certainly find what you want. Without a car it gets harder.

Going out to a national park by public bus might be challenging.

For sure spend a few nights in Senigallia.

And from Sulmona there are any scenic trips...

We spend about three weeks in those two regions, plus a few nights in Norcia en route to Senigallia.
Fantastic trip....ask if you want more info, if I can help. But we did not bike or hike.

For sure spend a few nights in Senigallia.

And from Sulmona there are many scenic trips into the mountains...

We liked Ascoli a lot and there is a direct bus from there to Rome.

We spent about three weeks in those two regions, plus a few nights in Norcia en route to Senigallia, directly from Rome.
Fantastic trip....ask if you want more info, if I can help. But we did not bike or hike.

Thank you for the information.

we will have a car so getting around will be no problem.

I have had a look at Sulmona and it looks fantastic. Also Senigallia does tick some boxes although worried the beaches will have hundreds of people there. Is it a very busy place?
I am interested in Vasto and the coastline there. And have you been to the area Monte Conero and we are interested in staying in the Gran Sasso national park.

Would you recommend Abruzzo over Le Marche or recommend a few places in both?

It really depends on what you're looking for.

Vasto isn't going to get many foreign tourists. It gets some German and Austrian but it's mainly Italians. Many returning home so to speak. People who now live in other regions.

Pescara or across the river Chieti would be easier to combine with Marche. It would let you hit the parks between the coast and Rome. It's easier to get to from Rome if you fly in. Pescara does have an airport if you're flying inside Europe.

Vasto is almost literally on the border with Molise. San Salvo the next town is the border. I guess that means you could look at the beaches all the way down to Termoli. You won't even know you've crossed the border. I'm not sure I'd call it a shopping destination. But I've no idea what you're shopping for.

When you mention beaches what are you looking for?

My planning thread for Le Marche also has a short summary report at the end, which might help Visiting Le Marche and Umbria
However, we preferred inland Le Marche to the urbanized/"resort" feel of the coast barring few places like Senigallia or Grottamare.
Haven't been to Abruzzo & Molise, but its high on our priority list, being even more undervisited than Le Marche.

From the town of Termoli the beach is a few steps down.

From Vasto to Vasto Marina is a much longer walk.

I wrote a long report about our trip last September, you can find it here.....

Inland Molise is a joy with few foreign tourists.

Any beaches on the Adriatic coast will be very busy in July, especially on weekends. In September, after school opens, the beaches will be much less frequented, especially on weekdays.

Both Le Marche and Abruzzo have beautiful mountains. In a hot and dry summer like this one, you won't see many flowering meadows. July would be better for that. May would be the ideal month.

Hi everyone
thanks so much for all the responses. I will have a look at some of your posts on your travels in the area for some more information.

Where do I find the link to your travel posts?

The town of Scanno in the mountains of Abruzzo is worth a visit. There is a lake there (Lago di Scanno) and some hiking. We visited as a day trip from Sulmona, but there are several hotels/B&Bs because I think it is also a skiing destination. Very pretty area. Villalago is close by and near another lake, Lago di San Domenico. Both lakes allow swimming.

zill, if you go to the Europe thread, you will see the airplane icon followed by the words 'Display Trip Reports'...you will then get to choose the country. If you touch the poster's name in this thread, you can choose his/her posts. Have a great trip.

Yes, take the drive to Scanno!!!

Yes it looks gorgeous, will stay there!

Loved reading your trip report and a few others, wow, so informative and descriptive!

Monte Cornero area is beautiful but was pretty crowded on a late September weekend..the beaches are gorgeous.