Day 6: National Parks

The advantage of riding a Vespa in Italy is first and foremost to be welcomed everywhere and to find parking spaces in all city centers. In addition, the Vespa is also an ideal vehicle to explore the many national parks that line up like a string of pearls in the Appennines.

Today we visited four national parks. After a morning coffee in Ascoli and the university town of Teramo, we cruised through the Gran Sasso National Park to L'Aquila, and from there crossed the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. Always facing the mighty Corno Grande with its 2912 meters. From there we went through the Majella National Park with its beautiful plateaus to the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo Lazio è Molise, and finally to Isernia – our endpoint for today's stage.

Here we were welcomed by the community with their annual celebration in honor of San Antonio di Padua. With a parade, chapel, and lots of celebration. A joyful feast for the senses.