Oasi Del Sangro

Alfresco activities galore await for guests in the Abruzzo National Park – local tourist info centres have the specifics for around 150 eco-tourism walking trails, and many kilometres of mountain bike trails. For alternative methods of getting about, head to Ranch Brionna (20 minutes’ drive) for quad biking outings and horse riding. However you roam, it’s worth factoring in some staying-still moments to see if you can spy the park’s wilder residents: wolves, chamois, deer and the Marsican brown bear are among the locals. Down in town, you can climb high into the air on the canopy trails at the Castel di Sangro adventure park; if it’s a cooling swim you need, head for one of the lake beaches on Lago di Barrea, 35 minutes’ drive away. If you’re swinging by for the snow season, it’ll take you 20 minutes or so to drive to Roccaraso, Pescocostanzo or Rivisondoli for downhill skiing, snowshoe outings and cross country skiing, or to Coppo dell’Orso amusement park for sledding and toboggan runs. Need a break from all the activity? There are plenty of little villages to potter around nearby – Alfedena (15 minutes’ drive), Scontrone (20 minutes) and Roccasicura (40 minutes) are all worth a wander, as are the piazzas, churches and cobbled streets in the centre of Castel Di Sangro.