Who knows if the ancient Italians knew, loved or feared the beautiful peaks of the Vettore, the Gran Sasso and the Maiella: the “rocky heart” of the vast Roman Empire. The Central Appennino attracts us with the stories of views spanning two seas. To accompany us here is the new Tiguan: SUV of great personality and technology. In fact it is halfway between an SUV and a middle-class minivan, so very suitable to be used on all occasions with family at full load. Ideal for our trip. We leave the Adriatic coast and we get to Montalto Marche, in front of us stands the elegant profile of the Vettore, the first of the three giants that constitute the largest backbone of the whole Italian peninsular part. Our Tiguan (with an aggressive look, thanks to the clean and geometric cut of the headlights), left the main roads and Montalto, leads us between major massifs, endless views illuminated by bright light and incredible passages in altitude. We are witnessing the passing of an extraordinary natural landscape made unique by the varied topography of the area and by the wealth of medieval towns, that embroider the maze of valleys that we are following.Bathed by the sun, we head on Piana Grande at the feet of Castelluccio di Norcia, that is admired after passing the 1536 meters of the Forca di Presta, it is a pleasant harmony. We leave the navigation system and choose the secondary roads that lead us to the Gran Sasso: they are all dirt. A test drive that, inserted the off road mode, revealed it as pleasant and adventurous, through increasingly captivating countryside and full of ancient beauty. On rough surfaces and on slopes, the new Tiguan feels “at home” and frees all its subsidiary and sporting power tackling each curve and each step without losing grip and with great confidence.Once in Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso welcomes us with a shining beauty made of verticality and endless prairies. A short transfer on narrow paved streets and we arrive at Caramanico, famous spa center. We are in the Maiella National Park: a light-colored rock giant who, with its charming hermitages, is candidate to become World Heritage. The “Great Mother”, as they call the people of Abruzzo living in this sort of Apennine paradise, has been for centuries a place of worship and refuge of shepherds and holy hermits. The offroad tracks are many and lead to enchanted places and kind ancient worlds. We discover towns, fairytale villages and the
isolation of the monasteries cut through solid rock.Volkswagen Tiguan has proved a faithful and reliable companion. .
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