Located in the southern center of Italy, and amidst the country’s quilt of 19 regions, Abruzzo often gets overlooked, particularly when it comes to its exceptionally underrated cuisine. The mountain-meets-sea region has a deliciously strong sense of culinary identity, evident its many rustic dishes, high-quality products, and array of locally produced wines.
Its culinary roots are no secret, though – at least not for Italian gourmands. It is, in fact, in the Abruzzese village of Villa Santa Maria where some of the country’s most acclaimed gastronomy really gets its roots. That’s because it’s not only home to the historic cooking school Istituto Professionale Alberghiero, but Saint Francis Caracciolo — the patron saint of Italian chefs — was born in the town, and is celebrated there yearly with a massive, gastronomical festival.