Just 15 minutes by train, 20 minutes by car or 30–40 minutes by bicycle from Francavilla al Mare, you can reach Costa dei Trabocchi and admire the famous fishing structures that tell the story of a people.
The trabocchi, which characterise the southernmost Chieti coastline of Abruzzo, are part of the region’s traditional heritage. Built along the beaches and anchored to rocks or reefs, the trabocchi, or trabucchi, are ingenious wooden structures once used for fishing. A trabocco consists of a wooden platform extending out towards the sea, with two or more long arms, known as antenne, to which a fine-meshed net, called a trabocchetto, is attached. An elaborate system of winches made it possible to lower the net into the water and then raise it with the catch. Described by Gabriele D’Annunzio in “Il Trionfo della Morte” as “machines that seemed to live a life of their own”, trabocchi are now one of the symbols of Abruzzo.
In recent years, many trabocchi have been transformed into genuine restaurants, where visitors can enjoy dishes from the seafaring culinary tradition of the Abruzzo coast.
The best way to admire the trabocchi is to walk or cycle along the so-called Via Verde dei Trabocchi, a cycle and pedestrian path of around 42 km dedicated to sustainable mobility, running along the Abruzzo coast and following the route of the old Adriatic railway. The route begins in Ortona, a town rich in history and natural beauty, and ends in Vasto, a seaside town with a splendid nature reserve.
As you travel along Via Verde dei Trabocchi, you have the chance to admire the extraordinary natural beauty of the Abruzzo coastline. Majestic cliffs overlook the sea, while hidden coves invite you to pause for a moment and enjoy the sound of the waves and the peaceful atmosphere. Along the route, you can also pass through nature reserves where flora and wildlife find a protected habitat.
An important service for users of the path is the Trabocchi Line, a summer regional rail service operated by Trenitalia that runs for around 60 km along the Abruzzo Adriatic coast between Francavilla al Mare and Vasto, offering privileged access to Via Verde with modern trains equipped with spaces for carrying bicycles.
