On the sunny ridges in these valleys, olive and winegrowing dominates the landscape. Towards the mountains extensive wheat fields stretch over the undulating hills to the foot of the high mountains. In the mountains of the Maiella and the Gran Sasso, the "transumanza" takes place according to an ancient tradition. In the warmer season flocks of sheep from Apulia are driven up the mountains to the sheep pastures; and in late autumn they come back to Apulia, where the land provides lush grazing ground even in winter. Nowadays, the sheep are transported in lorries, but only a few decades ago, a separate sheep trail was used to travel the long route. This 111-metre wide sheep trail, known as the "tratturo", partly still exists today.

Another aspect that characterises the special nature and tradition of this region, is the "trabocchi" on the coast. These are types of springboards on wooden stakes that were built along the cliffs for fishing.

The principal vine in the region of Abruzzo is the red grape, which is also called the "uva abruzzese". The grape has several synonyms and for a long time was mistakenly described as the "sangiovese". Experts are still not sure about the origin of this variety. However, this vine variety is as attached to this unique mountain region (65% of the territory is located above an altitude of 700 metres) as its people, who know how to live in total harmony with such a generous natural environment.

The vines are trained over a flat roof pergola system, called a "tendone". The ground is mainly ploughed but can also be mechanically hoed. The grapes, however, have to be picked by hand, as this "tendone" way of cultivation makes it impossible to use machinery to harvest the grapes.