The area is conspicuously marked by the presence of the River Sangro, which springs from Mount Majella and flows to the Adriatic Sea passing many towns and villages located in the valley and on the tops of the surrounding hills.
The village of Paglieta is located on a hill 4 km from the River Sangro and 9 Kms from the sea. The river Sangro was named after the red algae that once covered its banks and which can still be seen near the spring today.
At the mouth of the River Sangro there is a yacht marina. The nearest beaches are: Le Morge, casalbordino, Punta Aderci, Punta Penna, the costa dei trabocchi and Vasto, from where you can reach the Tremiti Islands by motorship or by hydrofoil. Other beaches are: Fossacesia, with its abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and Rocca San Giovanni, with its gulf of Venere.
On a hill near the mouth you can visit the English cemetery, a war cemetery and an impressive historical monument due to its location and the attention it receives. Moving further upstream along the River Sangro you will come across many castles, with those of Septe near Mozzagrogna, of Casoli and of Roccascalegna worth of mention. The whole village of Roccascalegna has been restored while retaining its original structure. It is situated on a hill top, which makes it exceptionally panoramic und charming.
15 kms away from Paglieta is Lanciano, a small town of about 30,000 founded by the ancient Romans with various noteworthy monuments. Lanciano is also a pilgrimage destination due to the Eucharistic Miracle.
Artificial lakes can also be found in the valley. Worth of mention is the lake of Bomba where you can even surf or canoe.
Moving still further upstream, we approach the Majella mountains with their natural park and the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo with its thick woods, which earned Abruzzi the nickname of Italy’s greenest region. At the foot of the Majella mountain lies Guardiagrele, “the door to Majella”, with its handicraft production in wrought iron and copper and the annual exhibition of handicraft works from the Abruzzi held in August.
Tornareccio is known for its diary products and honey production. In this area you will also find the 1,000 meters high Pallano mount, easy to reach and nice to visit with its megalithic walls, as well as the ruins of a Hellenistic and Roman settlement.
Also along the river Sangro we find Villa Santa Maria, renowned for its cook school, some of whose former pupils have worked for royal families and on cruise ships. Even today there are many cooks from Villa Santa Maria working throughout Europe and in the USA. On the opposite side we find Capracotta, the most heavily snow-clad village in the Appenines, where snow can reach heights of 4-5 meters. Betweeen the rivers Sangro and Aventino, a tributary to the former, is Fara San Martino with its wellknown pasta factories (De Cecco and Del Verde); Taranta Peligna, famous for its wool weaving, Lama dei Peligni, and Palena with its Grotta del Cavallone, which can be reached by cableway and is worth a visit due to its stalactitic and stalagmitic concretions. Not far from there is the Altopiano (=Plateau) delle Cinque Miglia with mountain holiday resorts Rivisondoli e Roccaraso and mounts Gorzano, Aremogna, Rotello and others. Near Palena you will find the ruins of Juvanum, an ancient Roman town.