Abruzzo is a region situated at the centre of the Italian peninsula facing the Adriatic Sea. Until 1963 Abruzzo and Molise regions were joined together and their name was Abruzzi.

The regional capital is L'Aquila. The region is divided into four provinces: L'Aquila (the largest), Teramo, Chieti (the most populous) and Pescara, Abruzzo's main economic centre. Abruzzo has a population of around 1.3 million.

The region covers 10,794 km² almost two-thirds of which is mountainous. The main rivers are the Aterno-Pescara, the Sangro and the Tronto. One third of the region is designated as national or regional parks.

Many people contend that the region is rich in natural beauties and history, but is only just starting to be discovered by mass tourism. Abruzzo's wealth of castles and medieval towns, especially near the town of L'Aquila has earned it in some quarters the nickname of "Abruzzoshire", by analogy with the "Chiantishire" nickname sometimes used to refer to the Chianti area of Tuscany.