Italy Travel And Hotel Guide

L’Aquila has a decent selection of good, reasonably priced places to eat , ranging from places serving traditional Abruzzese fare to cheap and cheerful pizzerias catering for the town’s student population. For a real treat head for Ernesto , in Piazza Palazzo (closed Mon & Sun), where you can indulge in farfalline with yellowness and prawns, a soup of farro (emmer, a barley-like grain) with wild chicory, or lamb in a sauce of egg, local goat’s cheese and artichoke hearts. Antiche Mura , at Via XXV Aprile 2 (closed Sun), is another good traditional restaurant, with a wide variety of local specialities - try ceci e castagne (chickpeas and chestnuts) or coniglio allo zafferano (rabbit scented with locally collected saffron) - as is Trattoria del Giaguaro , on Piazza Santa Maria Paganica (closed Mon evening & all day Tues); neither is especially expensive. Renato at Via della Indipendenza 9 (closed Sun) is a reliable choice close to Piazza del Duomo where the server will reel off the specials of the day based on produce from the market nearby. Away from the centre down the hill next to the 99 Cannelle is L’Antico Borgo , Piazza San Vito 1 (closed Tues) with excellent fish on Thursdays and Fridays; it makes a peaceful spot for lunch outside in summer. Seafood is a speciality too of Pizzeria La Ruota at Via Arco Terziarie 16, just off Via Castello (closed Tues). If you’re on a really tight budget, there’s the Spaghetteria , Via Fortebraccio 27 (closed Mon), for good-value pasta dishes. If all you want is a snack washed down with good wine, first choice is La Cantina del Boss (closed Sat evening & all Sun), Via Castello 3. Alternatively, several shops along Via Patini (between Piazza Palazzo and Piazza del Duomo) have all you need for a good picnic or lunch on the go.

Tags: aquila, decent selection, ernesto, palazzo, piazza, pizzerias, student population