Abruzzo, (also known as Abruzzi) is a region of south central Italy, formerly a part of the Abruzzi e Molise region. It borders Marches to the north-west, Umbria to the west, Lazio to the south, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east. The region covers 10,794 km² and has a population of about 1.3 million.

The regional capital is L'Aquila. The region is divided into four provinces: L'Aquila, Teramo, Chieti and Pescara, Abruzzo's main economic centre.
The region is rich in natural beauties and history, but is only just starting to be discovered by mass tourism.

The rocky mountain slopes of the Gran Sasso, Majella and Velino, vast forests, soft hilly landscapes and the magnificent sandy beaches of the Adriatic coast are the natural treasures of the region. Its main agricultural areas are the pre-Apennine hills out near the coast, where wheat, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, olives and fruit are the main produce.

Also of importance are the industrial crops of sugar beets, tobacco, saffron and liquorice. Numerous artificial basins make the region the top producer of hydroelectric energy in the Apennines, and added to this are numerous methane and bauxite beds.

For the most part, industry is concentrated in the plains area around Pescara, and from Chieti down to the sea, and include: electrochemical, electronics, iron, food, wine, paper, clothing and ceramics.
 

Walter Potenza