If you’re looking for a getaway that offers the complete Italian experience without the crowds, consider L’Aquila, Italy’s City of Culture 2026. Tucked beneath the peaks of the Gran Sasso in the heart of Abruzzo, L’Aquila has remained largely untouched by mass tourism. Protected by its mountain setting, it now emerges like a jewel; ready to reveal itself in 2026.
What sets L’Aquila apart is how naturally culture and landscape intertwine
Winter brings skiing across the wide plateau of Campo Imperatore. Spring and summer open miles of trails through Gran Sasso National Park, where limestone ridges and alpine meadows stretch toward the horizon. Autumn shifts the rhythm; harvest festivals, cooler evenings, and menus shaped by mushrooms, truffles, and mountain herbs.
