I keep going back to the Gran Sasso, it is different every time and a magical place from the wild horses on the plains to the hotel that housed Mussolini. This mountain is spectacular.

We went on Easter Monday, near the end of April, when there was still enough snow that some people were skiing on the slopes (but not many). We decided once up to do a hike, as there were enough parts without snow already, to walk up to the higher skilift. It is a pretty nice walk, with good views of some of the peaks. Go in the early morning on a clear day. If taking the bus, it leaves from the bus station in L'Aquila, and not some other stop people might tell you. The restaurant was overcrowded, as were the restaurants down the cable car, but potentially that was because of Easter Monday.