Discover Teramo: history and nature trails

Explore Teramo’s historic center on foot through four historic districts, with churches, monuments and Roman remains. Beyond the city, trails, archaeological sites, museums and mountain destinations offer different ways to shape your trip. In Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, protected landscapes meet a rich cultural heritage.

Hiking, horseback riding and cycling

The Ippovia del Gran Sasso is a 470-kilometer horseback riding route. It follows old mule tracks, carriage roads and paths through villages, pastures, and forests of beech and Turkey oak. Before your trip, check local access arrangements and guided tour options. The Sentiero del Tordino links small settlements with trails leading to Monte Bilanciere. These routes can be explored on foot, partly on horseback, and by mountain bike. Monte Bilanciere is considered a viewpoint offering panoramic views across the entire valley.

The Distretto Tra i Due Regni is in the Province of Teramo and includes Campli, Civitella del Tronto, Torricella Sicura and Valle Castellana. The route starts in San Giacomo and can be cycled. A longer cycling option is the 131-kilometer Bike To Coast Abruzzo: the route runs from Martinsicuro in the Province of Teramo, on the border with the Province of Ascoli Piceno, to San Salvo on the border with Molise.

The national park has hikes of varying difficulty. These include high-alpine trails to Corno Grande and Monte Gorzano, which are safe to hike only in summer. For another way to spend time outdoors, visit Parco fluviale del Tordino e del Vezzola: it stretches along both banks of the Tordino and Vezzola rivers and is suitable for walks and outdoor sports. A cycle path there leads to the necropolis and temple of Ponte Messato.

Mountain destinations and seasons

Prati di Tivo is a mountain resort at an altitude of 1,450 meters, at the foot of Corno Piccolo in Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. It is part of the municipality of Pietracamela. In summer, hiking and mountaineering are among the main activities. Ski touring and off-piste skiing are also part of the activity offering, subject to seasonal conditions. The lifts serve 20 kilometers of downhill ski runs as well as a cross-country ski trail; operations may vary by season.

The main access road to Prati di Tivo is the SS 80. It connects Teramo and Montorio al Vomano to the turnoff for Pietracamela–Prati di Tivo. Check road conditions and seasonal restrictions before setting out. When planning your trip, consider the time of year: summer hiking and mountaineering options differ from winter activities on the slopes and off marked trails.

Explore Teramo on foot and through its history

In the historic center, churches, monuments and Roman remains tell the story of four historic districts. The architecture of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta also brings together different periods: the upper part of the facade is Gothic, while the lower part is Romanesque. The Roman theater dates to the Augustan period; part of the amphitheater’s encircling brick wall survives. Torre Bruciata is a Roman bastion built in opus quadratum in the 2nd century BC.

The church of Sant’Anna dei Pompetti preserves the surviving part of the former cathedral of Santa Maria Aprutiensis. It also contains a 12th-century fresco depicting two angels, a clipeus and the blessing hand of God. Castello Della Monica was opened to the public, or community, for the first time in 2022, following work on the garden, ground floor and first floor. Check current access arrangements before your visit.

Scala Santa, ceramics and archaeology

In Campli, the Scala Santa dates to 1772. Its 28 wooden steps lead to the Chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum; inside, 18th-century frescoes depict scenes from the Passion of Christ. Along with Rome and Jerusalem, the Scala Santa is one of three holy sites worldwide said to grant a plenary indulgence. The Santuario della Scala Santa is open year-round; check visitor arrangements before travelling.

The Museo delle Ceramiche in Castelli was founded in 1984 to preserve and display the culture and art of majolica and local ceramic production. It is housed in a Franciscan monastery dating to the mid-16th century. Inside, an old ceramics workshop recreates the individual stages of the process: preparing the clay, shaping, glazing and decorating, as well as the traditional “Forno a respiro” kiln.

The Madonna della Cona archaeological site includes an Italic necropolis dating from the 7th to 6th centuries BC, as well as a Roman cremation necropolis from the Republican period, which remained in use until the first decades of the 2nd century AD. The site is accessible without architectural barriers; admission is generally free, although reservation fees may apply. Guided tours are available at the fortress of Civitella del Tronto. Check current availability before your visit.

Culinary ideas from Teramo

Recommended dishes in Teramo include maccheroni alla chitarra with pallottine and scrippelle ‘mbusse, crepes served in broth. For something sweet, try Sassi d’Abruzzo made with almonds, sugar and cocoa. Pepatelli are dry biscuits made with honey, almonds, orange zest and pepper. These dishes and baked treats add another theme to your trip planning, alongside city history, ceramics and outdoor activities.

Discover more destinations: Montone, Sant'omero, Mosciano Sant'angelo, Villa Lempa, Fano Adriano, Poggio Morello, Bisenti, Montefino, Miano, Cologna Paese, Floriano, Penna Sant'Andrea, Basciano, Nerito, Isola del Gran Sasso D'italia, Villa Vomano, Tossicia, Castagneto, Ripoli, Cerchiara, Colleluccio, Guardia Vomano, Mazzocco, Intermesoli, Valle San Giovanni, Castelnuovo Vomano, Giulianova, Civitella Del Tronto, Cologna Spiaggia, Santa Maria, Cesi, Atri, Castiglione Messer Raimondo, Rocca Santa Maria, Mutignano, Canzano, Silvi Marina, Tortoreto, Cermignano, Controguerra, Silvi, Torano Nuovo, Bellante, Teramo, Corropoli, Ancarano, Notaresco, Nereto, Ripattoni, Silvi Paese, Villa Rosa, Cellino Attanasio, Morro D'oro, Alba Adriatica, Arsita, Castelli, Castilenti, Colonnella, Pineto, Roseto Degli Abruzzi, Colledara, Ornano Grande, Campli, Pietracamela, Montorio Al Vomano, Sant'egidio Alla Vibrata, Scerne, Valle Castellana, Case Alte, Colleranesco, Penna Alta, Martinsicuro

For the broader travel overview: Abruzzo.