Pescara is the capital city of the Province of Pescara, situated in the Abruzzo region. The city is rather small, with only 125,000 residents, but it’s the most populated city in Abruzzo and it’s also quite a big touristic destination for people all around the world.
Pescara’s main attractions are the clean beaches, that are spread along 10 miles (20 kilometers). The beaches are full of tourists during the summer season. Here lies another touristic attraction, the Port of Pescara. Here, tourists can engage in activities such as fishing or boating. Near the beaches of Pescara you can find most hotels, if you’re interested to stay for a longer period of time, and also a series of private beaches, for some extra piece and quiet.
The city is also known for its main commercial street, Corso Umberto I, which forms a closed triangle with the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Via Nicola Fabrizi, triangle in which one can find the best fashion shops in the area. So, if you like shopping, this is the place to be!
Among the popular sites of Pescara is the birthplace of Gabriele D’Annunzio, an Italian writer, poet, journalist, playwright and soldier during World War I, associated with the Decadent movement in his literary works.
The “Museo Delle Genti D’abruzzo”, or, as it translates, the “Museum of the Abruzzi people” is also a very important touristic attraction. The museum’s 13 halls are dedicated to the customs, traditions and more than 4,000 years of history of the people living in the Abruzzo region and is one of the most traditional museums of all Italy. Another museums can be found in Pescara, The Basilio Cascella Museum, which houses the Art Noveau works of the Cascella family, some famous local artists.
The city’s patron saint is Saint Cetteus and there’s a cathedral in the city that has his name. The Cathedral Of San Cetteo, the Roman Catholic cathedral situated in via D’Annunzio, was constructed in the 1930’s and it’s a very beautiful cathedral. Here lies the marble tomb of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s mother.
If you’re interested in the local cuisine you should know that seafood is the main dish at local restaurants, obviously.
One of the most used ingredients in the city’s signature dishes are hot peppers. One of the spicy foods that are very popular here is the “Polpi in purgatorio”, cuttlefish cooked with tomatoes, garlic and peppers. However, if you’re looking for extremely cheap eating options, you should simply pay a visit to the beach side restaurants, where fishermen will cook whatever they caught during the day, so the food is always fresh.
The nightlife scene in the city is quite loud. If you’re looking to have some great fun and are up to a night of non-stop partying, you can opt for the beach clubs and party all night long on the sandy beach or you can simply head out to some of the night clubs in the city centre.
All in all, Pescara is a lovely city to spend a nice vacation in. It may be small but it sure is a lot of fun!