When you become an integral part of town life in Abruzzo prepare to get involved in town gossip. Abruzzo people are crazy for gossip and it is a huge and entertaining part of life. You will hear stories repeated about certain members of the community over and over, each time resembles the truth a little less. These stories are regaled with the same amount of excitement and sensationalism as any major news headline or soap opera story line.

You can find most important things out about people “on the Aburzzo grapevine” and views about different people and things vary wildly depending on whom you speak to. It is very entertaining indeed.

Much of the gossip that is shared is more down to perception than reality. Most people tend to make stuff up and embellish the truth to say the least. The general consensus is that most Abruzzo people tend to run each other down. They will argue fiercely that their neighbours wine contains chemicals. Or they do not grow their vegetables in the right way. Or simple that their produce is not as good as theirs. And as for the people in the next Abruzzo village, well, obviously, they are all crazy……