The Story
Ciao!You may already know me from TikTok and Instagram as @joeinitalia, where I share what life is like here in Abruzzo…I tell it straight, with no glitz and glamour. What started as simple storytelling about my experience quickly grew into something more. People began asking real questions about buying property, moving abroad, and whether a life in this part of Italy (a region untouched by mass tourism) could actually work for them.
Hidden Abruzzo grew from those conversations. Based in the Alto Vastese region of Abruzzo, with a strong focus on the Monti Frentani and Valle del Trigno areas, I want to help people discover a part of Italy that’s often overlooked - one that’s quieter, more affordable, and deeply rooted in local life and community. Many homes here are sold privately, many opportunities are never advertised, and without local knowledge, they’re easy to miss.
Today, I work on the ground with buyers, sellers, and businesses - connecting people, helping them understand how things really work, and offering honest guidance about property, bureaucracy and everyday life in Italy. My goal isn’t to sell a dream of la dolce vita, but to showcase the many benefits of this area and to help people find their place here. It takes work and this is the perfect place to build your own dream.
I created Hidden Abruzzo to promote this area responsibly, support businesses and the local community, and help newcomers navigate the process of moving abroad with clarity and confidence, while staying true to the place and the people who live here.
This isn’t about selling Italy.
It’s about helping people find their place in it.
Why Monti Frentani?
The Monti Frentani region sits in Southeast Abruzzo and is made up of rolling hills, forests and countryside, with 23 villages nestled throughout. The villages are connected with a network of roads and hiking trails extending to 636km with routes for beginners to the more advanced hiker.
This area suits people who value tranquility, cooler summer temperatures and a strong connection to nature. Ancient forests with oaks, maples and ash trees offer cover and protection for the many animals that call this place home like the Marsican brown bear, deer and the Apennine wolf. The pastures are dotted with protected wild orchids and wild asparagus. Here, people embrace their rich cultural heritage which dates back to the Samnites.
Monti Frentani appeals to those who want a quieter, more traditional way of living, without needing constant convenience or visibility. It is the perfect place to call home for cyclists, runners, artists, writers and families wanting a safe and peaceful life.
For information on the villages, official trail maps, places to eat or stay, you can explore the region via the tourism website below.
Why Valle del Trigno?
The Valle del Trigno is part of Monti Frentani but specifically focusses on the towns and villages along the Trigno River, bordering Abruzzo and Molise. From these elevated villages, there are wide views across the valley extending to the sea.
The hilltop villages along the first ridge line of the Valle tend to feel more accessible and have more services that support the other villages within the Monti Frentani region.
Many Europeans have seasonal homes here and spend their time reconnecting with friends and neighbours, cycling, enjoying days at the beach and much more. Homes here are not just seasonal with many families choosing to return permanently to raise their children in a safe and peaceful setting steeped in tradition, away from the hustle of the larger towns.
Valle del Trigno is the balance for families, remote workers and anyone who wants small town living with a more direct route to larger towns and services.
To arrange activities and tours, you can visit the website below.
Life here is built around people as much as place. The towns and villages are small, which means faces become familiar quickly. The formal salve greeting will turn into a friendly ciao before you know it as you see your neighbours at the bar, the markets or during a passegiata. There is a strong sense of community here and people look after one another. The saying it takes a village could not be more true.
Food here is very seasonal and prepared in the traditional way, with recipes passed through generations. In the Autumn, it is very common to see ladders ascending into the olive trees as the harvest begins; a true family affair, people return home and come together to spend the day outside harvesting, eating lunch under the trees and bringing their harvest to the local frantoio to produce that beautiful liquid gold. During the Winter and Spring, truffle hunting begins with hunters heading out in the early hours with their dogs to find black and white truffles, which are used on simple pasta dishes, pizzas and preserved into an oil which can be used throughout the year.
Geography quietly shapes daily life as well. Nestled between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea, you can ski in the morning and go for afternoon swim in the same day. People remain very active here through cycling, hiking and trail walking, swimming, and simply working the land.
Underlying all of this is a deep attachment to the area itself. Many families have stayed here through difficult decades, and that history shows in how carefully the land is treated and how strongly people identify with their town. Life here isn’t a performance built for tourists; it’s about community and traditions.