Duration: one day
Chieti is the second largest city in southern Abruzzo after Pescara, but is much older than Pescara. It is divided into two completely different sections, the old town on top of a huge hill, and the new town (Chieti Scalo) at the bottom of the hill. The new town includes the Megalo shopping centre, the largest mall in Abruzzo. The old town has a Roman temple and theatre still standing, as well as an excellent archaeological museum. The town centre has many stylish but rather expensive shops.
The early morning bus to Rome goes through Chieti. To drive, the SS81 goes south from Penne to Chieti Scalo, from where you can see old Chieti up on the hill.
Duration: one day
Castelli is a small mountain town famous for its majolica pottery, which you will see on sale all over Abruzzo. Walking round the town there seem to be kilns in every back yard, and the streets are lined with pottery shops. The tradition started in the 16th century, when a local priest decided it would be a good idea to use thousands of majolica tiles to provide the ceiling for a new chapel, each tile with a different painting. The chapel is hidden off the small road up the hill from the town; if you can't find it, there is a Castelli pottery museum in the town itself.
There are no buses to Castelli from Penne, but it is a not very long and very scenic drive from Penne along the lower flanks of the mountain. Drive north out of Penne on the SS81 and take the left turn signposted Farindola. From Farindola take the road to Rigopiano, where you will find pine woods with picnic tables as well as a restaurant. Just after Rigopiano turn right at the T-junction. This road leads along the base of the mountain to Castelli. The road may be blocked by snow in winter, but is usually cleared by snow ploughs.
Duration: half day
Loreto Aprutino is the closest town to Penne, and about the same age, though smaller. The town lies down the side of a hill, and you can wander round the narrow streets. The castle in Loreto, unlike the one in Penne, is still there, though now converted to a hotel. The church of S. Maria in Piano is famous for its mediaeval frescos (including a life of St. Thomas Aquinas). There are shops and some places to eat, mainly round the main square.
You can reach Loreto by bus from Penne (the Pescara bus from the Penne bus terminal runs once an hour and stops in Loreto) or by car; take the left fork at the end of the Penne public gardens outside the main gate.
Duration: one day
The top of the mountain range behind Penne is a huge plateau dotted with little villages. There are three which are particularly attractive. There is no easy bus route I know of, but they are easy to reach by car unless the weather is bad: check the weather forecast for storms or snow. The roads are two-lane only, but well maintained.
The first village is Castel del Monte. This is an attractive stone village with a market on Saturdays and several cafes and restaurants. It may be a good place to stop for elevenses or lunch
The second stop is Rocca Calascio, built round a spectacular castle on a hill top. The original village was abandoned and the inhabitants moved to a new site lower down the hill. Rocca Calascio was later bought by developers who have reconstructed the original buildings, converting some to hotel rooms and restaurant. Cars are not allowed into Rocca Calascio, and you will need to walk up a steep hill to the castle.
The third village is Santo Stefano di Sessanio, of similar age to Rocca Calascio but never completely abandoned but now living from tourism. The famous tower collapsed in the 2009 earthquake but I believe the rest of the village is intact.
Duration: half day
Leave the house by the alley directly in front of the front door and head downhill. Follow Via Mario dei Fiori out through the walls to the ring road. Cross over the ring road and take the first road on the left, Via Clemente de Caesaris. This is the road down to the lake.
Walk down this road past the pretty baroque church of the Madonna del Carmine. You now have a choice whether to complete a circuit on the road, or to follow a longer signed trail off-road. The off-road trail is not circular, and you will need to retrace your steps to return.
For the off-road trail, pass the medical centre then take the first right. this road turns left past a couple of houses almost immediately. The footpath can be joined at the end of the road. This is a trail which was originally sponsored by the council called the Sentiero Serafino Razzi, though the original start to the trail has unfortunately been blocked by building work. The trail is not signed at this point, but is further on. I have mapped the route on openstreetmap, where it shows in red.
When the footpath meets the road, turn right and follow the road over the bridge. The trail begins again immediately after the bridge and is signed from here on, with occasional picnic benches and placards describing the plants and animals in each spot. The first 3 kilometres are well signed, but I was unable to make a complete circuit.
For the on-road circuit, keep on down the main road through the hamlet of Colle Formica. When you reach the lake, there is a Pizzeria on the left if you want to break for refreshments.
Follow the road along the lakeside. Just before the lake dam a small road leaves on the left. Take this road. The road winds through farmhouses and then past the 18th century fountain (it is below road level because the original source was actually part of the Roman baths, now buried). At the end comes a short but steep climb and the road emerges just before the main gate into Penne.
Duration: half day
The World Wildlife Fund who manage the Penne nature reserve also maintain a visitors centre which includes a short signed walk over a variety of different types of ecology with typical local vegetation, as well as hides to observe birds and otters.
It is possible to walk here following the road over the dam, but it is a long road walk. It may also be possible to walk here following a branch from the Sentiero Serafino Razzi trail, which would be much more pleasant, but I have not yet explored this.
To drive, follow the lake road (Via Clemente de Cesauris) down from the Penne rign road, and drive across the dam. Continue bearing right and cross a bridge over one of the streams feeding the lake. On a small hill on the left is the workshop of Enzo Azzurini, one of the last survivors of the traditional Penne industry of wrought iron. The entrance to the lake Visitors Centre is just after this on the right; the car park is just after the entrance.
Duration: one day
In mediaeval times rule over central Abruzzo was split between 2 often warring towns: Penne
and Citta Sant'Angelo (as well as the smaller Atri, a little further north). Citta Sant Angelo is perched on top of a hill with magnificent views over the Pescara plain and the sea; about the same size as Penne, but flat, with a single road running round the town and little alleys splitting off at the sides between the houses. It has a range of shops and restaurants, as well as a number of mediaeval churches.
Silvi Marina is just 10 minutes from Citta Sant'Angelo, and has the usual sandy beaches, umbrellas, and restaurants for this part of the coast.
If travelling by bus, then the best route would be Penne - Pescara - Silvi - Citta Sant'Angelo. If driving the most attractive route is north on the SS81. After about 4 km turn right on the SP2 then follow signs for Elice (Elice is a pretty but tiny hilltop town with castle and church, which takes just half an hour to see). After Elice turn right on the SP1 to Citta Sant'Angelo. You can park just outside the (massive) walls of the entrance. The road down the hill and under the railway line leads to Silvi Marina.
If it's too hot for the beach an alternative to Silvi is to carry on up the SS16 coastal road then turn left to Atri. As well as the old town, Atri has its own national park, with the desolate 'calanchi': strange sandstone formations shaped by the wind and rain but stripped of all vegetation. After Atri continuing south and west will eventually return you to the SS81 and so back to Penne.