ITALY » Abruzzi

highlights

Seaside

Big on kayaking or Fishing? Smitten with hiking, bike tours and horse riding? And you do want all this by the sea? Then say “Buongiorno” to Abruzzo, your beautiful new mix of Mountain, Hills and yes, great Seaside, all united by art, food and culture. Nowhere else will you get from the Highest peaks in central Italy to white sandy beaches in just 45 minutes. So, the beaches, let's talk about them. Think you'd need hours of ferry rides to the Islands just to rest for a while on those pristine beaches in a sea of turquoise? Think again, and come to our southern end shores Vasto (and neighbouring towns) will provide with all this, and more. Featuring sun-soaked villages, glorious secular olive groves all through the hillside, seafood festivals, delicious all-organic food and mile upon seemingly endless mile of soul-stirring biking, here come the shores of Abruzzo.

Seaside

Abruzzo’s sandy coastline (interrupted in places by pebble beaches) is home to many popular beach resorts. Some of the best beaches are in Fossacesia and Vasto Marina, on Abruzzo’s southern coast.

Not far from the border with Molise, Vasto is a lively, hill-top town with an atmospheric medieval quarter and some great sea views. Two kilometres downhill is the popular resort of Vasto Marina, a strip of hotels, restaurants and camp sites fronting a long sandy beach.

Much of Vasto’s centro storico dates from the 15th century, a golden period in which the city was known as ‘the Athens of the Abruzzi’.

Other coastal cities are Silvi Marina, Francavilla al Mare and Pineto, a bit further north; finally, travelling even further, still north direction, shortly before Le Marche, we find Alba Adriatica and Martinsicuro, to close the list of seaside resorts which are considered among the best in Italy. Beaches of Abruzzo are pristine and the waters of the Adriatic are warm.

Characterized by broad, sandy beaches in the north to more rugged terrain in the south, Abruzzo ’s 80 miles of coastline attracts visitors from near and far. In fact, the region has 26 beaches on that meet the criteria of the Blue Flag organization which rates beaches based on water quality, environmental management and safety. Locals recommend Alba Adriatica and Martinsicuro on the northern coast ofAbruzzo and Vasto in the south. Silvi Marina, in the middle, is frequently on lists of the best beaches in Italy.