Road tripping from Rome to Pescara

This was orginally published in The Detour in April 2024.

Sounds like you're in for an awesome road trip with your little one! The drive between the two cities is only 2.5 hours, so if your kiddo is in nap mode, you could easily just keep going. But you would miss some seriously nice spots if you didn’t turn off the main road along the way!

Considering how short the drive is, there are actually a surprising number of places worth stopping. That said, you might start to sense a somewhat monastic theme, so you might just want to pick a couple that sound most interesting to you:

Scanno is a medieval town nestled into the Majella mountains in Abruzzo. Its old churches, narrow streets and a beautiful natural lake make a pretty great backdrop for stretching your legs.

Guardiagrele is known as one of Italy’s most beautiful towns, both for its panoramic views over Majella National Park, and for the historical monastery and churches. It’s worth timing this one for that afternoon coffee and cake craving, because where else are you encouraged to eat “nun’s breasts”?

Loreto Aprutino is genuinely ancient, dating back to the Italic tribes and later becoming a Roman colony. It’s also where you should grab some souvenirs, like top-notch ceramics and high-grade olive oil! Grab some food at family-run La Bilancia if you have time for dinner—that’ll definitely fill your belly.

Oratorio di San Pellegrino in Bominaco is the must-see for all you history buffs and art lovers. The small UNESCO site is covered in frescoes depicting stories from the bible and of medieval Abruzzo. The surrounding views of the valley don’t hurt either!

Parco dei Monti Simbruini is a sanctuary for biodiversity, home to wolves, eagles, and numerous other species. This is the place to get out for a little wildlife spotting, freshen up in a waterfall, or check out the ruins of a Roman aqueduct system.

Parco Villa Gregoriana may as well be something out of a fairytale. The villa itself is surrounded by 32 hectares of lush greenery, plenty more waterfalls big and small, and an actual Roman temple. Fair warning: heading down into the valley is easy enough, but coming back up might be a little strenuous while carrying the baby!

If you're down for a bit of a detour once you arrive in Pescara, I’d also suggest visiting the coastal town of San Vito Chietino. Perched on the Adriatic Sea, the town’s shoreline is dotted with trabocchi, long wooden platforms that jut out like docks and were traditionally used for fishing in the area. This one has even been converted into a picturesque over-water restaurant!

These spots are absolutely top of the list, but you really can’t go wrong. The whole area is beautiful and fascinating! Hopefully that’s given you a few ideas, and please let us know how it went when you get back :-)

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