Abruzzo seaside: From Central to Southern coast itinerary
We leave Pescara for
Francavilla al Mare, well-known not only for its beach, but for having been
patronized by Gabriele D'Annunzio and the artist, Francesco Paolo Michetti, who,
in his studio, gave hospitality to artists and intellectuals. Many hotels,
campsites, private villas and flats, numerous clubs all create together a good
seaside resort.
From Francavilla, going inland, we arrive at
Chieti in a short time. It is one of Italy's most antique cities that still
boasts Roman, medieval, and renaissance ruins bearing witness to antique splendors.
Here, it is a must to visit The National Museum of Archaeology where the famous
statue of the Guerriero di Capestrano (the Capestrano warrior) is. After
Francavilla the coast changes appearance and before getting to
Ortona the beach changes to high, jagged cliffs interspersed with small
beaches.
From here there are boat trips to the Isole Tremiti (Tremiti Islands). Continuing south,
San Vito Chietino offers a flat beach which, further down, changes to rocks
where we can still find several "travocchi", archaic instruments used for
fishing. Here D'Annunzio, in the picturesque Hermitage, set his Trionfo della
morte and so immortalized one of these machines: "lu travocche di Capo Turchino",
describing it with particular concern for detail.
Chieti's coast itineraries
Moving further south, the beach, once again, becomes level and
Fossacesia, Torino di Sangro and
Casalbordino share the long, sandy shore. At Torino di Sangro it is still
possible to see the dunes that, up to twenty years ago, were a common feature of
the Abruzzo coastline.
A few more kilometers and we come across the gulf of
Vasto Marina. The long beach has adequate facilities, there are agreeable
hotels, sports centers, and several campsites.
The historic center, in the upper part, offers various points of interest: the
Castello of the XIII century, the Palazzo d'Avalos, built in the 1400's, the
bell-tower of Santa Maria Maggiore. On the border with Molise there is the last
seaside resort,
San Salvo Marina. Here, too, there is a long beach and numerous residential
settlements.
