What to do around Lanciano - AbruzzoHolidayInformation

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What to do around Lanciano

SPORTS

I'm not a great sportsman, but I love walking. Both the mountains and beach offer excellent walking opportunities. When it is ski season, many peers shoot off down the slopes skiing or snow boarding, but I like to just walk through the snow enjoying the views and warm drinks. That is why I like Passo Lanciano, it is excellent walking terrain. Skiers go for Roccaraso, the third biggest ski resort in Italy, just an hour from Lanciano.

Again the sea offers many opportunities for others. I like to swim, and do a bit of light aqua-gym in the summer, and walk along the coast with an ice-cream of course. Others like to go snorkeling, diving or play volleyball.

Around the Bomba and Casoli lakes there is hiking, horse riding, fishing, canoeing and rafting, mountain biking and mountain climbing. As you can imagine I go more for the leisurely boat trip followed by a large lunch over-looking the lake. If I'm really feeling sporty I may hire a pedalò.

There are various indoor and outdoor swimming pools around Lanciano, tennis courts and football pitches.

HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

One of my favourite spectacles is Lanciano's Cathedral. Its entrance is very grandeur and inside the detail and colours are spectacular. It is a huge building. But what really gets me, is it is built on a bridge.

Another locally famous site is the Abbey near Fossacesia, a fifteen minute drive from Lanciano. It is on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Adriatic sea. The spot seems to attract ever lasting sun light and warmth. The Abbey is a world class example of gothic architecture, and inside are pretty gardens. In the basement of the Abbey are recently discovered frescos. It helps that a nice fish restaurant neighbours the Abbey making the trip even more pleasurable.

Surprisingly, only recently, the original city buildings of Lanciano were discovered beneath one of the existing squares. You can visit the site and journey under Lanciano. One of the local Lanciano churches houses the world famous Eucharistic miracle.

If you like castles, then visit Roccascalegna's castle, built on to of a volcanic rock. Very spectacular.

I recommend you take a visit to the castle at Rocca Calascio and have a meal there afterwards. More of a summer activity.

CHILDREN & TEENAGERS

Italians love children which makes it easy to go out with children at any age. They are very family orientated and try to please you whatever you want to do with your children. Children can go to bars, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs - accompanied of course. If an adult can do it children will probably be doing it too.

Playgrounds

Lanciano has two reasonable playgrounds. The best playground is in Fossacesia and caters for a wide age range. There is even room to kick a football about, play hide and seek and cycle with your bike. Most beaches have small play areas for children, the one at San Vito is quite good.

Swimming pools

For small children and aqua-gym there is the 'Sporting' swimming pool in Lanciano. For bigger kids and grown ups, there is 'L'Uliveto' - a much larger pool. L'Uliveto is covered in the winter and then uncovered in the summer. There isn't one swimming pool with a baby and grown up pool.

Just after Lama Dei Peligni towards Palena there is a fun out door swimming pool for the summer. There is another similar out-door pool with a slide at Torino di Sangro, too.

Live music

Italians are lively people and they like to go out at night. Many events and a lot of entertainment is publisized by word of mouth, so it is a good idea to make friends with some local people of the same age.

A lot of pubs and bars have live music nights every week which becomes much more frequent from May to September. These are piano bar style set-ups and can be good fun. You can also get Latin American nights and Karaoke.

In 'Zona Fiera', at the exhibition hall they regularly have folk dancing evenings which is more for the whole family or grown ups. In August they do the same but out-door which is good fun.

Along most of the beaches in the summer period there is a lot going on. Fossacesia, San Vito and Pescara are particularly lively. Again there are bands which play all types of music, discos, pianobars. If you are stuck for something to do in the summer the beach always offers entertainment, no matter what time of the day or night, and it is usually family orientated.

The Polycenter near the Lanciano motorway exit is good for children. There is a bowling alley, a sort of Mexican bar called Gasoline which is quite lively, there is the cinema and usually there are crowds of youngsters window shopping to help pass the time.

A lot of young people just meet at the center of Lanciano and talk and walk and have a drink at a bar before driving to one of the local pubs or go night clubbing in Pescara, and Fossacesia on the beach during the summer.

Other things to do

CINEMA There are two multi screen cinemas in Lanciano

MUSIC There are a lot of pubs and the big bars which often have music nights, dancing evenings, piano bars or karaoke

FOLK DANCING There are folk dancing events all year round, but more common in the summer period

LOCAL FESTIVALS From May to September there are many local festivals, some are quite big events with famous groups

THEATRE The Theatre at Lanciano has plays all year round.

BOWLING There is a bowling alley near the motorway exit at Lanciano

ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSES OR PLACEMENTS IN COMPANIES

Italian is a beautiful language and a real pleasure to learn. You can mix a holiday with a relaxing language course which can help you understand a lot more about the Italians and life in Lanciano. We organise personalised Italian courses so please let us know what type of needs you have and you will need booking in advance.

If you want to work in a local company it may also be possible. You will need to stay for at least two weeks. It will be unpaid but will give you the opportunity to really understand Italian working life. Italians are great entrepreneurs and creative people and it can be very useful to understand their way of thinking and their very different working techniques.

SPORTS

Hiking, mountain walks

Program from January to July

Program from August to December

Events in Lanciano

July, August and the first two weeks in September is a very lively period in and around Lanciano. After Ferragosto (15^th August), Lanciano begins to really fill up and the silly season takes off in a memorable way. There is something to do or see every night for all ages. The crowds grow and activities get more and more extravagant until the arrival of the main festival from the 14^th to the 16^th of September, the biggest date in Abruzzo?s social calendar.

Lanciano : Events
JULY TO SEPTEMBER
From the second week in July, through the whole of August to the first week in September	Daily activities for all the family. For the program look at www.comune.lanciano.chieti.it
The whole of August	?L'Estate Musicale Frentana? daily musical concerts on an International level held around Lanciano. This event attracts large numbers of international musicals and appeals to music lovers (classical, jazz, opera)
Summer period	For cabaret dates for 2008 check out the site www.FestivalNazionaledelCabaret.it Il Festival Nazionale del Cabaret
31 August	St. Egidio?s toy Fair, a children?s and romantic?s flee market
SEPTEMBER
First weekend in September	Inter-quarter contest for the Mastrogiurato
The following day	Historical re-enactment of the Mastrogiurato including fire eaters, sword fighting and competitions
8 September at 10.00	?Il Dono? ? local farmer?s auction goods they donate for charity. There is also a procession of traditional farming
14-16 September	Spectacular festival at the centre of Lanciano. It starts at 4.00 am and continues for three days. Lots of music, games, stalls and fireworks. Let?s not forget the horse racing at the center of Lanciano
OCTOBER
October	Children?s exhibition (Fierabilandia)
DECEMBER
December	Agricultural feed Exhibition (Fiera Agroalimentare)
23 December	Local Lanciano procession call ?La Squilla?
JANUARY
January	Wedding exhibition (Fiera Sposiamoci)
17 January	St. Antonio?s play. Most quarters and surrounding villages put on a re-enactment of the story of St. Antonio in the form of a play in dialect
FEBRUARY
February	Motor Show (Fiera Route & Motori show)
3 February	Festival of San Biagio. On this day you traditionally get your throat blessed at a local church (San Biagio)
Shrove Tuesday	Carnival starts. Children run through the streets and play tricks on un-suspecting adults and peers. In Pescara and Francavilla there are processions of floats / dressed up trucks.
APRIL
Holy week	an important period for Lanciano
Easter Friday at 7.00 pm	Procession at the centre of Lanciano (starting at the church of St. Chiara)
Easter Sunday mid-day	Procession starting at the Cathedral
Easter Monday	Traditional trip out of Lanciano usually into the countryside
Tuesday at mid-day	Procession around the Cathedral
During the month	National Agricultural Fair 'La Fiera Nazionale dell'Agricoltura'
MAY
May	Living today Exhibition (Fiera Abitare Oggi)

FESTIVALS

A cause for celebration, dancing and eating and drinking too much with the locals. Some festivals are small traditional affairs with a local folk band and food, others like the Lanciano festival are three days of music, fun fairs, processions and fireworks. The Lanciano festival is an attraction for thousands to visit the city and see something unique. The Lanciano festival starts with a four o?clock firework display (am, not pm). The fireworks last about half an hour. You will be surprised how many locals of all ages are out to witness the opening of the festival.

A moving religious festival occurs at the Holy week when a local volunteer from each parish drags a life size crucifix through the streets bare foot. Following him are other people from the parish singing carols. It is a great honour to play the part of Jesus.

At the end of August in Lanciano there is an amazing medieval re-enactment including a long procession in costume, with load drumming and trumpet fanfares. The finale is a competition of strength, sword fighting and fire eaters. Of course, more fireworks.

One thing is guaranteed, you will not get bored.

At Pretoro I witnessed something I was sure would be a terrible experience, the ... snake festival. It actually cured any fears I had towards snakes and helped me understand them. The villagers go out into the hills the morning of the festival and catch as many snakes as they can find. They then walk about the streets with them around their bodies ? wild snakes!! But there are very few bites or problems, nobody gets hurt, and before you know it you are having your picture taken with a local snake. If you have a fear of snakes, I suggest you try it out, it will either cure you or send you mad.

Some of the local festivals are quite spectacular. Lanciano is great for the massive diversity of activities over such a long period. At Fara San Martino they let off fireworks with the mountain as a backdrop. At San Vito they have a firework display in the sea.

ABRUZZO: LIST OF FESTIVALS
Aprox. date
MAY
First week in May	Artichoke festival in Cupello
31 May	Festival / auction of typical products at Torino di Sangro
JUNE
28 ? 30^th June	Guardiagrele (Ch) ? Wild bore festival
JULY
13 July	Re-enactment of the Saracens attack in Villamagna
In July	Festival in Treglio
In July	Ham and Melon festival in Mozzagrogna
In July	Arrosticini (type of kebab) festival Cupello
First week in July	Show from the different quarters Cupello
28 July	Show from the quarter Cupello
22-25 July	Festival in Tollo
22-25 July	Housewife?s festival in Frisa
29-30 July	Festival in Vacri
End of July	Festival of fried fish at Fossacesia
End of July	Fisherman?s festival at Casacanditella
End of July beginning of August	Wine festival at San Martino sulla Marruccina
End of July	Lamb festival at Pizzoferrato
AUGUST
First week in August	Festival in Montazzoli
In August	Cake and biscuits Festival in Mozzagrogna
First Saturday in August	Pork festival in Carpineto Sinello (Ch)
First weekend in August	Wine, music and poetry festival in Canosa Sannita
Beginning of August	Festival at Tufillo
Beginning of August	Festival at Palombaro
Beginning of August	Traditional food festival in Tollo
First two weeks in August	Wild bore festival at Pennapiedimonte
3-7 August	Festival in Miglianico
First three weeks of August	Local craftsman show in Guardiagrele
4-7 August	Farmer?s festival in Monte Marcone di Atessa
5-6 August	Pasta festival in Vasto
5-7 August	Good food festival at Crecchio
6-7 August	Biscuit and wine festival at Casalbordino
6-7 August	Festival at Roccamontepiano
7 August	Pasta and hunter?s festival Pennadomo
9-11 August	Festival at Pretoro
9-10 August	Good food festival at Pollutri
10 August	Festival at San Giovanni Lipioni
10-14 August	Sausage festival at Serre a small village near Lanciano
10-15 August	Pasta festival at Pennadomo
10-11 August	Festival at Carunchio
10-12 August	Typical foods festival at Rocca San Giovanni
11-15 August	Beer and potato festival at Pizzoferrato
12-17 August	Festival at Casoli
11-13 August	Beer festival at Castiglione Messer Marino
11-13 August	Fried pizza festival Rapino
12 August	Countryside and walkers festival at Guilmi
12 August	Wine festival in Vasto
13 August	Pork festival at Lentella
13-15 August	Sheep?s cheese festival at Palena
14 August	Pasta festival at Montebello sul Sangro
14 August	Festival at Guilmi
14 August	Truffle festival at Torrebruna
14 August	Festival at Miglianico
Middle of August	Sheep festival in Furci
15 August	Ferragosto ? Major bank holiday
15 August	Grilled lamb festival at Roccaspinalveti
18-19 August	Festival at Cupello
19-20 August	Rocca San Giovanni Jazz festival ? for information wolpe@katamail.com
20-21 August	Pasta festival at Fara San Martino
20-21 August	Gnomes festival at Piana delle Mele - Guardiagrele
20-21 August	Truffles festival at Quadri
21 August	Pizza Festival Civitella Messer Ramondo
26-27 August	Pizza festival at Pianibbie small village near Casoli
Last week in August	Festival of Vacri
31 August	Festival at Pretoro
End of August	Festival of Arrosticini (type of kebab)
End of August	Farmer?s festival Civitaluparella
SEPTEMBER
September	Festival of the grape and the wine in Giuliano Teatino
First or second week in September	Grape festival in Mozzagrogna
3-4 September	Pork festival at Vacri
10 ? 12 September	Mountain walk and festival in Castiglione Messer Marino
11 September	A gincana western at Vacri
24-25 September	Display and market of honey at Tornareccio
In the month of September	?Cooked wine? festival at Roccamontepiano
OCTOBER
8-9 October	Festival of cooks at Villa Santa Maria
15-16 October	Festival at San Giovanni Lipioni
NOVEMBER
4 November	Roccamontepiano Sagra della Castagna ? chestnut festival.
15 - 16 November	Treglio Festa del Vino Novello. ? New wine festival
End of November	Caldari - Ortona wine festival
DECEMBER
First Saturday in December	Carunchio ?White Truffle? festival
First Saturday in December	Pollutri ? Bean festival