In the little spa town of Caramanico Terme, you can shop for local delicacies, take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or pamper yourself with a luxurious spa treatment. The Visitors Centre hires mountain bikes, so why not spend a day or two exploring the area on two wheels, following our self-guided cycling routes. Several evenings a week Caramanico opens its otter-breeding centre for an informative tour, while the Botanic Garden at Sant’Eufemia has some 500 examples of local flora. If you have a hire car, you could spend a morning canoeing on the calm waters of the Tirino, or rock-climbing in the Santo Spirito Gorge, or soar with the eagles on a tandem paragliding flight. If you are seeking Culture, there is the fascinating National Archaeological Museum in Chieti, or you could spend the day in the beautiful town of Sulmona, admiring the Corso Ovidio’s lovely buildings, the 11th century crypt of the Duomo, and the 14th century façade of the Palazzo dell’Annunziata. You cannot fail to notice that Sulmona is home to confetti (sugared almonds)! Close to Sulmona there is also the medieval hermitage of Sant’Onofrio and a temple site of the 1st Century BC dedicated to Hercules.
Even on our Original Car-Free Escapes there is some scope to explore independently if you don’t feel like walking, and options are provided in the handbook.
