We asked our Life In Abruzzo readers for their mini-reviews and thoughts about the community, blog, and events, here are some of the overwhelming comments we received from the USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, Ireland and Australia! Our thanks to all our amazing members who contribute daily to our group and make these lovely comments so very special! Your tips and stories about Abruzzo help people connect, virtually and physically in ways you could never guess!
Life In Abruzzo is the best online community in Abruzzo and we are grateful and proud to be part of it!
I think you do a wonderful job promoting Abruzzo and bringing us all kinds of great stories and information. I know Abruzzo pretty well, but i always learn something new from you!
My grandparents immigrated from Pescina to Boston, and both died before I was a year old. They were unsuccessful in passing any language or culture to even one of their children. My father passed when I was 10, and I knew nearly nothing about my heritage until I was a teenager. I wrote a letter to one of my surviving aunts. Her information (mostly incorrect as it turns out) ignited a passion in me to rediscover my heritage. I love this group, and cherish the photos and information. I can’t say Mille Grazie enough to you and the members of this group.
My father was born and raised in Abruzzo. Your newsletter helps make me feel a little more connected to such a wonderful place. Thank you!
Keep up the great work! I love the variety of content, both practical and showing a sense of awe for Abruzzo, for its beauty and honesty. As a new reader I'm really starting to dial in Abruzzo's sense of place and its people and traditions. Keep up this great labour of love!
I just want to say thank you as I know you are a Mother who's working like a dog and also doing Life In Abruzzo on the side as a passion. Through Life In Abruzzo, there are about eight families who all become friends and we get together at least once a month and meet up at the beach, playgrounds, and now pumpkin patches. We take care of each other's kids and even help on each other's farms, and that's because of you and Life In Abruzzo without you we never would have met.
I love seeing the beautiful photos! My great grandparents were from Introdacqua and I hope to visit someday soon
It's an amazing achievement in what you have created with Life In Abruzzo. I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into maintaining it all. Thank you. It all helps enrich our lives
This is a lifeline for me as I can only stay in my house in Abruzzo in agosto. This helps me stay connected, bravi tutti e grazie!
Very much appreciated by this fellow immigrant. I learn about such a lot of good, interesting stuff through the group. Thank you for all your hardwork!
I love the team's commitment and so enjoy the posts which make me so pleased I am now a resident of this beautiful region! Thank you Sam!
Sam, I take my hat off to you and your team's incredible energy and enthusiasm for Abruzzo! Celebrating the treasures of Abruzzo, making them known but over over indulged!
Complimenti! I still remember Let's Blog Abruzzo 10 years ago like yesterday!
Thank you for all your efforts and work. Even though I can't visit Abruzzo, it means a lot to me to keep up with the birthplace of my Mother, Grandparents and other relatives!
We put an offer on a house and the Life In Abruzzo fb group is our Welcoming Wagon. Thanks for all the great information and sharing!
Thank You 🙏 ✈️ ♥️ 💫 for letting me travel, I love ❤️ Abruzzo ❤️
"Stop sending me pages to the blog. I'm lost in it for hours!!! Once I start reading one of the stories, I'm pulled into the next and pretty soon it's dark outside. Fascinating and I can't wait to come again this year."
Thanks for doing what you do!
Your efforts serve a wonderful purpose which has grown over the years. Like any good thing worthwhile persuing, it takes time and dedication and you dedicated your time abundantly. Wishing you continued success and recognition for the Life In Abruzzo community!
For an Italian-American New Yorker whose whole ancestry derives from Chieti, Abruzzo; this website is magnificent.
“Often Life in Abruzzo is a highlight of my day. We live in Central Pennsylvania and I have cousins in Pescara.” I love the photos and everything else.”
"I have a home in Abruzzo in Castilenti and this has been such a great resource for me. So wonderful connecting with others who love Abruzzo. My grandparents immigrated from Abruzzo and it was heartbreaking during Covid to not be able to be there. It was wonderful being able to connect during that time with Abruzzo on this site. It was a real gift.”
"There is no source on Abruzzo I value more than Life in Abruzzo. It's coverage is comprehensive- from historic to recent photos, new promotional videos for parks and towns, insightful and moving documentaries, cultural deep dives, pieces on regional cuisine and restaurants, traditional events, art shows and concerts, political developments, and all other kinds of news. I can't imagine a better fount of information for anyone contemplating a move to the region. And there's certainly no source that keeps the region and its treasures more present in my mind, immediate, and vibrant (and I subscribe to over 20 like-minded pages). The page's passion for the region, but also its clear-eyed, honest, and frank discussion of life there make for essential reading/viewing for anyone who truly cares about Abruzzo. I've got a daily "jones" for information and news from Abruzzo. And Life in Abruzzo is the only place that satisfies it. I've been traveling in Abruzzo for over 25 years, own and operate a trattoria in Philly dedicated to the region's cucina, and trace my paternal origins to its Teramo Province."
“This group and blog has been a great source of information! My roots are in Abruzzo. Born there but my parents immigrated to Canada. I plan on retiring there. I would love to see this group and blog continue as you have revived in me a passion to discover this place of wonder I'll soon call home.” Elvira, Canada
“I have loved participating in your Sunday Live ‘pop up’ groups from the United States. During this time of pandemic, they have helped me to feel connected to beloved Abruzzo when I could not travel. Thanks for all you do”.
We love reading about beautiful Abruzzo whilst we are there and even more when we are away in the U.K.”
“This site has been an invaluable resource for learning more about Abruzzo, where I have a guest house. My guests are able to get to know about the area before they arrive and plan activities in an informed way. It is also a vital connection for me when I am in the US. I live in Abruzzo only part time and I don't know what I'd do without this means of staying connected”.
“We're in Australia at the moment and look forward to the posts of our beautiful Abruzzo.”
“Life in Abruzzo doesn't quit or fade away as other blogs and websites have (including my own). In fact, Sam is always thinking about ways to grow, to cast a wider net. Its founder's commitment to foster interest and community in Abruzzo is real, vibrant, and valued by readers and residents around the world. I live in Washington, DC and have ancestral ties to Mascioni (AQ) as well as many friends throughout the region.”
“Couldn't be without this group. I read from the USA daily and so enjoy the pics, blog posts, USA, communications and historic information. We've planned where in Abruzzo to visit by reading about various towns and sites.”
I just love this group and the blog. The variety of posts - history, art, photos, ideas for hikes and other local travel, restaurants, towns, questions and experiences of the members - second to none! I feel so much more connected to the land of my grandparents, and where I plan to retire in a few short years. I currently live in San Francisco.”“ Sam, you do a marvelous job with the group and blog. I also really appreciate Peter's photos, history lessons, ideas, and overall enthusiasm.”
"I love to see the promotion of the beautiful places to visit in Abruzzo. I have been a member for quite a while and live in Abruzzo nearly full time.I have found out about lots of lovely places to visit, due to other members' posts. Pete Austin's photos have been very instrumental in our adventurous visits to places we may not normally know about.I love the way the members are kind and sharing and when they visit are keen to share their personal trips for us all to enjoy. Hopefully we can encourage a lot more people to visit and help develop the 'slow' lifestyle that is so wonderful and inspiring in Abruzzo. Happy to help support my favourite FB page any way I can!” Janet, Abruzzo, Italy
“I have been following Life In Abruzzo since 2011 from Chicago. My grandma was born in Castiglione Messer Marino and I have dual citizenship.”
“I love your page! I’m a first gen Canadian but most of my family is still in Chieti and area. Sadly, it's not in the cards to visit often but hoping to be back soon!”
“It's an amazing idea. I'm living in Ireland and love the posts from Abruzzo because my granny was born in Abruzzo. I feel so good to know more about the region”.
“I enjoy this group so much! My grandfather was from Pescocostanzo, great grandparents from Sulmona and L’Aquila. I have learned so much through these posts and can not wait for the day when I too will walk the streets they walked. My dream is to retire to Abruzzo so I share so many posts and pictures with my husband who has no Italian roots. I want him to understand how in love with this region I am. I literally dream of Italy all because of the beauty and information I learn daily from just reading and looking at this page! Keep up the great work. You have made my life so much more enjoyable during the pandemic and all the happenings in the USA.”
"I live full time in Abruzzo and love the photos, travel and history posts and food and recipes! I learn so much about the other areas of Abruzzo, love to share the posts and get great feedback from family and friends in USA"
“I love to hear about Abruzzo as my parents both were born there . I have been back and hoping to return. I love your page. It helps me feel connected as to not lose where my parents came from. Thank you Sam for all your hard work.”
“I’ve been following for a very long time. I’m in New York. My mother’s family (Laccetti) are from Vasto in Chieti Her mother’s maiden name is Gizzi .. A very valuable service you provide...“
“I have a house in Abruzzo. This is a fabulous website and valuable resource for anyone wanting to know more about Abruzzo and the people who live there.It is my number one 'Go To' page when I am missing Italy and need an injection of 'Abruzzo feel good Buzz'. I just love all your beautiful photos and the interesting stories you post about the people and towns. Please keep it going Sam!”
“I love this site..I am always learning about my heritage”
"l love this website, all of my relatives live in Abruzzo, as soon as Australia opens up to international borders, l will be on that plane to visit them all and all of the costa azure"
"Im originally from Sora (in Lazio) just next to the border to Abruzzo. Spent all my Sundays as a child and teenager in the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo and went to uni in L’Aquila.I have been living in the UK for the past 20 years so the group and the photos remind me so much of home - I really pulls strings at my heart "
I read you from Sweden with great pleasure. House in Abruzzo.
I love this website! My maternal grandfather was from Abruzzo and I will be in his hometown of Collelongo next week! Your Facebook page has so much great information.
I love your posts because my Father left Abruzzo in the 50s and came to Australia but never returned, so we didn't meet any of his relatives. Abruzzo is so beautiful, Dad must have missed it badly.
I learn things from Life in Abruzzo that I could not learn anywhere else! You are a treasure and I thank you so much for this group.