Have you ever dreamed of visiting a mystical place like Atlantis or Asgard? The real-life, small town of Fano Adriano has all the characteristics that one dreams to see in a mystical location. If you ever have the chance to visit the town in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy, you will know what I mean.
From the second you get out of the car, the mountain air hits you with elegance and the scenery takes your breath away. That is probably one of the best things about the town itself. It is in the mountains and I think that is the reason it is so unique and amazing. It is in the middle of nowhere, but somehow, at some time, the restaurants and bars are stocked with food, and the water flows through the drinking fountains. Everyone is friendly and caring and whenever I visit, I have the same amount of freedom as the homemade pasta in my stomach. During the summer, I leave the house at noon, do anything I want to with my friends during the day, and get home at midnight. Adults don’t even bat an eye about it. Most of the time we don’t even get home until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. The town is as safe as it is beautiful. The relationship between adult and child is a “you don’t bother me and I won’t bother you” type. Being a teenager, this is the type of relationship we all dream about in the U.S.!
Last summer, I spent time in Fado Adriano. During the day my friends and I played soccer, hiked, biked around town, and did just about anything else you can imagine. One day, my friends and I were biking down an abandoned street when we reached a mountainous rock wall that was impeding our path. It seemed to go up for miles. So, obviously, we did the only thing we could think of. We left our bikes on the street and hiked it, without any gear save for a few water bottles. I’m going to be honest; the trip was difficult (it also seemed to take forever) and there were a few close calls, yet everything was worth it when we finally reached the top. The view from atop the wall was as amazing as one would expect. We saw the whole mountainside stretching off over the horizon. The sky was so vast that I felt like an ant on the large shoulders of the mountain. We almost forgot to take photos because of the astounding view. Of course, what I did that day was very dangerous and highly inappropriate, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn't a beautiful experience.
The scenery of the mountainside makes all activities 100 times better and creates a more amazing experience. With no adult supervision, one gets into the sort of cartoon trouble one’s always dreamt of. Fano Adriano truly is a remarkable diamond hidden in the lush forests of a rocky mountain.
If you are ever on a vacation in the heart of Rome, just know that Fano is only 2 hours away, so it might be worth your while. Oh, and one more thing, if you mention my name, you might get a place to sleep for your stay.
