← Pescara Marathon·1 night

Sulmona: A Night Below the Maiella

A walled valley town with a Roman poet, a tradition of sugared almonds and a mountain backdrop. A simple overnight by train.

Duration1 night
TransitDirect regional train from Pescara Centrale to Sulmona, about 53 minutes to 1 hour 17 minutes
DepartsPescara

After the Pescara Marathon: Sulmona

The Route: Pescara Centrale → Sulmona → Pescara Centrale Logistics: A direct regional train, about 18 a day, with a fastest journey of about 53 minutes. The old town is flat and a short walk from the station. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Pescara Centrale ──(direct train, 53 mins to 1h17)──> Sulmona station
                                                           │
                                         (about 1.5 km walk or short taxi)

The railway from Pescara climbs inland up the valley of the Pescara river and arrives at Sulmona, a town of 25,000 in a high basin ringed by the Maiella and Morrone mountains. The air is cooler than at the coast, and the town has the look of a place that has been busy for a very long time. The Roman poet Ovid was born here in 43 BC. Check the train timetable at trenitalia.com.

September in Sulmona: warm days and cool evenings, with the mountains clear and the light sharp. Rain is possible. Bring a layer for the evening.

Night One: Sulmona

The station is about 1.5 km from the old centre, so take a short taxi or a flat walk. The main square is Piazza Garibaldi, with a market on some mornings and a fountain, and the medieval aqueduct, built in the thirteenth century, runs along one side. The Corso Ovidio is the main street, lined with shops. The sugared almonds known as confetti have been made here for centuries, and several shops sell them in elaborate arrangements. Check shop hours, because many close in the afternoon.

The Annunziata complex is a Gothic and baroque church and palace with a decorated facade, and it is on the way to the square. Check its opening and the Monday hours.

Where to stay. Look for a small hotel or guesthouse within the old town, near Piazza Garibaldi or Corso Ovidio. Check the rate, the breakfast time and the distance to the station before booking.

Where to eat. Sulmona's dishes include arrosticini, the mutton skewers of Abruzzo, and pasta with lamb ragù. Book a table for the evening.

Getting back

Take the direct train back to Pescara Centrale. Check the first morning departure if you have a flight, and allow a margin.