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From the softly-curved shores of the Abruzzo Adriatic to the rugged peaks of the Appenine mountains, this is not a trip for scuba-enthusiasts who had their morning dive, as altitude shifts reach 2000 meters. The variety of landscape in such short distances is the key feature of this excursion. |
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| Pineto |
 A sea-side resort, its name is driven from pine trees that line the sea-shore six rows deep. Nearby Pineto is the Tower of Cerrano, a medieval fort designed as a defense against Slavic pirates. |
| Atri |
 The centerpiece is the church of Santa Maria Assunta, itself erected with stones shipped from Istria over remains of a Roman spa. The church houses behind its impressive portal some important Renaissance works. The rooms around the cloister are home to the Capitolare Museum. The churches of Sant'Andrea & San Domenico are also worth a stop. |
| Basciano |
Basciano is a natural belvedere overlooking two valleys and thus appears as the gateway to the mountains. |
| Montorio al Vomano |
In fact, it is a slight downhill ride to Montorio al Vomano, the entrance to the Gran Sasso National Park. Of note are the churches of San Rocco with XVIth century furnishings and the Cappucini church. |
| Pietracamela |
This quaint town is a good base station for touring the park; at 1000 m altitude it is nestled between mountain ridges. The Arno River falls and the Calderone glacier (the last one left in the Apennine chain) are picturesque stops.
 Barely 6 km from Pietracamela, but having climbed 450 meters in altitude - a serious climb for bikers, is the town of Prati di Tivo. Home to winter sports and crossroads for trekking & hiking excursions, one can benefit from the lifts that climb a further 800meters. The view from the Madonina caps off this excursions with a panorama extending from the tip of the Gran Sasso (2912m) - whose vertical drops are reminiscent of the Dolomites, to the sun-drenched shores of the Adriatic. |
