Get a real taste of La Dolce Vita visiting Abruzzo from behind the wheel of Fiat's iconic Cinquecento

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It's almost impossible for non-Italians to visit Italy and not at least once think to themselves, wouldn't it be wonderful to live or retire here? The combination of the beauty of the country, the cultural traditions, the fabulous wine, and of course the variety of the cuisine, is an undeniable lure. Balancing the lure is the cost of relocating to this paradise, especially to popular destinations like Tuscany, which are no longer the bargains they were even 10 years ago to foreign buyers from North America.

So if Tuscany is getting beyond your reach, what are the alternatives? On the eastern coast, Abruzzo is poised and positioned, like Tuscany before it, as an attractive substitute to its pricey neighbor to the west.  

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The gateway to Abruzzo is Pescara, the commercial center of the region. Pescara, which has a modern airport served with non-stop flights to most Italian gateways such as Rome and Milan, is centrally located to serve as your base to explore this region either on holiday or with the potential of purchasing a second home in Italy, taking advantage of prices that are from 25% to more than 50% cheaper than comparable properties in Tuscany or even Umbria.

One of the attractions of Abruzzo is its geographic diversity. First there are wonderful seaside towns along the Adriatic coast from Giulianova in the north and the resort of Vasto in the south. Next are picturesque towns in the rural foothills that offer the traditional relaxed Italian lifestyle that so many of us find so attractive. Finally there are the mountains of the Grand Sasso that offer some of the best skiing in central Italy; it's a very attractive combination that allows you at certain times of the year to ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon.

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If you're looking for a unique way to explore the region, we have a suggestion for you: tour Abruzzo behind the wheel of a vintage Fiat 500, the classic Cinquecento. With the earliest versions now more than 50 years old, the 500 is the car that a little more than 10 years after the end of the Second World War truly put Italy on wheels. It accomplished this in much the same way that the VW Beetle motorized post war Germany, and to a lesser degree, the way the original Mini modernized British roads as the fifties drew to a close. (On our tour, we were guided by members of the 500 Club Pescara. Their web site can be viewed by clicking here.)

The quirky Nuova 1957 Fiat 500 was powered by a half-liter (479 cc) 2-cylinder engine producing a minuscule 13-horsepower, less than many contemporary lawn tractors. With its front-hinged doors (on earliest models) and fold-back cloth top that ran the length of its roof, less than three meters long and manufactured until 1975, the 500 became the prototype of a mid-century city car. Seating four--if they were very friendly--a vintage Fiat 500 is the absolutely perfect way to get to know Abruzzo thanks to local connection tour operators Italy by 500 Abruzzo. The Italy by 500 Abruzzo tours are booked through James Lockett Point 101 in the UK (001 44 2072411113, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Day One

Upon arriving at the Abruzzo Airport and collecting our bags, our host Leonardo Di Flaviis checked us out in the diminutive 500. For two people, the 500 has a surprising amount of room with luggage going in the rear seats, shown in a period-produced promotional video.

Thankfully our tour of Abruzzo will be at a leisurely pace for even the updated Cinquecento will be hard-pressed to exceed 100 KPH (thankfully Leonardo's fleet is comprised of five later-model, updated 500s) so as you drive up into the foothills, the illusion will be that you are driving back in time, albeit at less than 60 KPH (35 MPH), especially climbing the hills going up to Guardiagrele.  

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Our destination for the first evening's stay was the Hotel Villa Maiella where we were treated to a welcome dinner prepared by local celebrity chef Peppino Tinari. With his signature sautéed mushrooms and perfectly prepared pasta entrées, complemented by outstanding local wines, it made for an exceptional culinary experience and a great way to celebrate our first day on the ground in Italy with fellow tour participants.