SURROUNDINGS

Relais Villa Mare is located in the heart of the resort town of Pineto, often referred to as a corner of paradise. Pineto is in fact a small town on the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo and owes its name to the lush pine forest that runs along the sea for more than 4 kilometres.

The town's history began in 1920 thanks to the Filiani family from Atri. This illustrious Atri family owned a villa,, still known today as Villa Filiani, in the then almost , depopulated area. The Filiani family took the initiative to create a plan to build a seaside town. They then began planning a coastal pine forest, through reforestation 2000 pine trees that line the beach. This makes Pineto a unique place today.

Part of the area, of Pineto is the The Cerrano Tower, a pirate watchtower, and in the waters surrounding it, the ancient port of Roman origin that was very important for maritime trade in Abruzzo, was destroyed by Venetian Republic together with almost all the Adriatic ports. along with almost all the Adriatic ports. But the tower remains one of the best-preserved coastal fortress on the entire Abruzzo coast and currently hosts the headquarters of a marine biology centre.

Right at its foot we find the beach the Cerrano Marine Protected Area , an unspoilt corner of Abruzzo that extends up to 3 nautical miles from the coast and extends for 7 km. The stretch of sea in front of the Torre del Cerrano is made up of sandy seabed, as is the rest of the Pine forest coastline, and rocky seabed whose bottom reefs are determined by the semi-submerged boulders of the ancient Roman port.

A few kilometers from Pineto, , Atri, an enchanting city of art with very ancient origins (7th-5th centuries B.C.),, is definitely worth (.. .). It was an important colony in Roman times and suffered barbarian invasions and foreign domination during the Middle Ages, before being definitively 'reborn' under the control of the d'Acquaviva lords. It is precisely the heart of the town that conveys the charm of its long history through monuments, historical buildings, churches, museums and evocative views, all pieces of the splendid mosaic that Atri offers its visitors.

The main attraction is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta 1285 dating back to 1285 and recently renovated. Inside, you can admire frescoes dating back to 1300 d.c. and mosaics dating back to Roman times. The adjacent Bishop's Palace and Seminary belong to the late 16th century. The museum exhibition in the Bishop's Palace houses valuable relics, including painted majolica, ivory and silver crosses and pastorals, ., and illuminated manuscripts from the 16th century. .. Directly opposite the cathedral is an elegant, perfectly preserved theatre, the 19th-century Municipal Theatre, also known as the 'bomboniera' due to its size (300 seats) and sublime acoustics. Further on in its majesty stands the Ducal Palace of the Acquaviva, an all-stone fortress, fortress built in the first half of the 14th century and remodelled in the 18th century, where inside you can admire a Renaissance-era courtyard surrounded by an open gallery with inscriptions and Roman remains.

The Calanchi Nature Reserve is a protected area characterised by a varied environment, that enraptures the visitor's gaze. The calanchi are true 'natural sculptures' created by the millenary erosion of the clay soil. , ., ., ..

Moving inland, in the heart of the Apennines lies the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, located on the territory of three regions: Abruzzo, Lazio and the Marche. The most majestic chain is the Gran Sasso, with the highest Apennine peak, the Corno Grande (m. 2912), at the base of which the Calderone Glacier has survived..

One of the symbols of the Park is the Apennine chamois, but there are also other relevant protected animals such as Deer e Roe deer, and their predator par excellence, il Apennine wolf. Furthermore, it is not difficult to admire very rare birds of prey such as: l’Golden Eagle, il Peregrine Falcon and the Eagle owl which daily overlook the peaks of the majestic mountains. With a little luck and attention you may stumble upon theMarsican brown bear which in summer wanders around the woodland flora. The vegetation is rich in waterfalls and forests that immerse the visitor in an oasis of peace and tranquility.

At the foot of Corno Grande it is then possible to glimpse the small village of Campo Imperatore, called the 'little Tibet' of the park, to its characteristic conformation of houses perched on the slopes of the mountain. But there are many well-preserved villages that blend in with nature, together with churches, abbeys and castles, caves, necropolis and temples that from prehistoric and Roman times have come down to us full of mystery and fascination.