My Secret Escape in Abruzzo

Collecorvino is a little hill village in the hinterland of Pescara, not far from the sea and with stunning views on the high mountains of the Monti Sibillini National Park.

I have never been for a stay in the Abruzzo region, though it is one of the most ‘original’ ones. I chose the upper part around Pescara and ended up again in one of the most beautiful places I could imagine: Collecorvino.

I came here via Pisa where I brought a friend to his family. He will stay there for a while and go back to Germany by train, while my stay is much shorter. I wanted to have a look to see if I would like to start a second home here in the region.

The place to stay these days I looked up on Airbnb, and I chose, like most of the times, with my heart. It would be the right one. And it IS the right one. Easy to find, at the edge of a village with all I need – post office, pharmacy, supermarket, bar (for coffee on the go) and a big supermarket 5 minutes by car.

The one room apartment has all for a stay: kitchen fully equipped, bathroom with shower, twin bed and even Internet. I can sleep with open windows and doors if I like and I wake up in the morning looking out on the high mountains of the national park. Houses around don’t disturb at all, even if people are out in their gardens, it is pretty quiet.

Personal experience:

Like I said I sleep in total silence and with all open. My host Cinzia is amazing: full of energy, a huge information center, the creator of a very personal paradise. She is there when you need her, she is invisible when you want to be by your own.

In the kitchen area I was greeted with plums from her trees, there is coffee and of course the most important coffee machine. Fridge was on, there is even a microwave.

The bathroom has a good shower with a special system for the water (ask Cinzia, I think it is a great solution for not losing water if someone leaves the faucet open). The room has enough tables and chairs, a TV and outside you can sit in the garden.

Your host – she IS in fact a super-host – lives just a few steps further but can move in a way you don’t see and hear her at all. There is a common BBQ, covered but open on three sides. The only other place you use together with other guests (there is only one big apartment on the first floor) is the trash bin room.

I recommend:

You can walk in the country-side from here. Or go up into the village, have a look in the old streets and the church. Most of all I enjoy sitting on the lawn and looking out on the mountains and the hills around. Or observe the farmers working on their farmland.

If you have a car (much recommended), go to the beach, maybe at Atri. There is a beautiful free beach. Or discover Pescara, an ancient port from long before the Romans conquered it.

The place is surrounded by countless little borghi (Medieval villages in the hills and mountains), all promising a jump into the past. Or if you are more a nature-lover go up towards the mountains, deep into the national parks and hike along lakes, valleys and high peaks. There are professional guides as well. Ask Cinzia.

Don’t miss to see how the olive oil is made, or participate at a wine-tasting. The cuisine of the region has also many specialties you don’t find elsewhere. Prefer always restaurants where local people go to eat, avoid tourist places.

For me it is just the perfect place to stay. In fact many strangers have a second home here and stay for a few weeks a year for vacation, the rest of the year they rent their homes. I think I found a new place for my second home as well …

But most of all I want to say thank you to Cinzia who made my stay super special. Without her I would not have done many things. But most of all I loved our long talks. She is a source of energy, positivity and invention, finds always a solution and let shine the sun also when it’s raining (which by the way is exciting here). Grazie Cinzia!