Abruzzo is a region of Italy bordering Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Until 1963 it was part of the Abruzzi e Molise region (with Molise). The term Abruzzi is an obsolete plural denomination from a time when the Bourbons administered the territory as 'Closer Abruzzo'(Abruzzo Citeriore) and 'Further Abruzzo' (Abruzzo Ulteriore).
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. The four provinces are further divided into 305 municipalities. Abruzzo has a population of around 1.3 million.
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.
