Deep-dive

Identity and administration

Four provinces: L'Aquila, Teramo, Pescara, Chieti. Ordinary statute, no minority recognised under law 482/1999. Festivals: Perdonanza Celestiniana in L'Aquila (28–29 August, UNESCO heritage), San Cetteo in Pescara, Festa dei Serpari in Cocullo.

Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays

L'Aquila – capital L'Aquila (seat of the Region; the regional council sits in L'Aquila, many offices are in Pescara)
Teramo – capital Teramo
Pescara – capital Pescara (province created in 1927)
Chieti – capital Chieti

Statute and language

Abruzzo is a region with an ordinary statute, separated from Molise in 1963 (until then the region was called Abruzzi e Molise). The de facto double capital, institutional L'Aquila and economic Pescara, is a recurring political issue. Abruzzese dialects belong to the intermediate southern group, with the L'Aquila dialect closer to those of central Italy; there are no communities protected under law 482/1999.

L'Aquila: San Massimo, 10 June; Perdonanza Celestiniana, 28–29 August, with the opening of the Holy Door of Collemaggio (UNESCO intangible heritage since 2019)
Pescara: San Cetteo, 10 October
Chieti: San Giustino, 11 May; Good Friday procession, among the oldest in Italy
Teramo: San Berardo, 19 December
Cocullo (AQ): Festa dei Serpari of San Domenico, 1 May
Sulmona: Giostra Cavalleresca (July) and the Madonna che scappa in piazza (Easter)

Population

Regional figurePeriod: Jan 1, 2025Validsample unknown

Source: ISTAT – Popolazione residente al 1° gennaio (dataflow 22_289, DCIS_POPRES1)

1,269,118people