Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region in central Italy, with an area of about 10,763 square kilometres (4,156 sq mi) and a population of about 1.3 million inhabitants. Its western border lies less than 50 miles (80 km) east of Rome. The region, divided into the provinces of L'Aquila, Teramo, Pescara and the Chieti, borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Abruzzo is split into a mountainous area on his western side with the Gran Sasso D'italia, and into a coastal area on his eastern side with the beaches of the Adriatic sea. Geographically it is more of a central than southern region, ISTAT (the Italian statistical authority) considers it part of Southern Italy though, as a vestige of Abruzzo's historic association with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.