What does Abruzzo mean? You’re wandering about it since you’ve heard about Abruzzo region in Italy. We’re going to tell you.
Well, the origin of the name is uncertain. The most common idea is that it comes from “aprutium”, that is a corrupted form of “ad Praetutium”. In latin it meant “land of Pretuzi”, as they inhabited the area of the today city of Teramo.
On the other end, there’s something iconic in the name Abruzzo, if we think the old latin word “abruptus”, that means craggy, exactly the way our territory looks.
Strong and Kind
The wide but cozy territory of Abruzzo, and the nature of abruzzesi, surely provided the region her best-known definition: strong and gentle.
In 1882 a journalist from Ferrara called Primo Levi had a tour of our region, and wrote the description that has become a reason to be proud for us: Abruzzo Strong and Kind.
He wrote:
For us Abruzzo means…
“In our whole language there’s one simple and effective word, that means all the purposes of honest people and defines a lot of good thing, a lot of necessary things: that’s Strenght. Thus, Abruzzo was told and is told to be strong. In our whole language there’s one word that means all the grace. A word that includes and defines all the beauty, all the nobleness, and that’s Kindness. Thus, after I’ve seen and I’ve known Abruzzo I say: Abruzzo Strong and Kind. Thus, after I’ve seen and I’ve known Abruzzo I’ve said and I say again: Abruzzo Strong and Kind”.
Abruzzo had a mention of Forbes on Jan. 8.2018 defined Abruzzo “a slice of heaven” and some days after CNN suggested 10 reasons to visit Abruzzo.
On 12th July 2019, Time referred to Abruzzo a more affordable alternative to Toscana.
Well, maybe we can’t be sure about the actual meaning of the word Abruzzo, but we can say what Abruzzo means for us:
- the vital Adriatic sea with its fishermen’s tradition;
- the sandy shores where people take their better time together;
- the green blossomed hills where peasants grow olive trees and vineyards;
- the craggy mountains crossed by the shepherds and inhabited by wolves and bears;
- the top of the mountains with their shelters, where hiking and climbing lovers find a place to rest;
- the old villages, perched on each hill, at the feet of the mountains or overlooking the sea. As Silvi, where you can see at the same time the Adriatic waves and the rocky shapes of Gran Sasso and Maiella.
Want to discover what will Abruzzo mean to you? Visit us.
Book your room in the old village of Silvi.
Pic: Pierfrancesco Spitilli