The coast of Abruzzo is anything but monotonous: there are flat sandy beaches highly organized for tourists where is possible to rent beach umbrellas, deck chairs and have a bar/restaurant available all day and also part of the night. These beaches have bay watchers and life guards for safety issues. There is always some entertainment going on on these type of beaches: beach volley, live music, dance lessons, sport lessons. Fun is guarantee.

But if you prefer a quiet spot to relax listening to the placid waves of the Adriatic Sea, Abruzzo coast can offer solitary wild beaches where is possible to spend a laid back day, walking the dog or simply reading a book.

There are dramatic coastlines with high cliffs and pebbly beaches of unique beauty.

The Adriatic Sea has a water’s temperature that is very mild; in summer it reaches 28 degrees. It is possible to bath from the end of April to the beginning of October. Abruzzo offers one of the highest densities of blue flag beaches in Italy.

But what is very unique on the Adriatic shore is the Trabocchi coast.

The Trabocchi coast starts from Ortona and ends in Vasto. These 50 km of coast are characterized by the beautiful Trabocchi, original fishermen stilt huts used for fishing purposes.

A large fishing net is lowered from the Trabocco down to the sea. The fishing net is left in the sea water for a certain time: half an hour or an hour.

When the fisherman lifts up the net there he finds his catch.

Nowadays there are Trabocchi that offer a wonderful opportunity: to eat freshly caught fish there in the stilt hut.

The atmosphere is very romantic especially in the evening. The stilt hut is lighted up with dozens of bulbs, its floor gently moves following the rhythm of the waves, the moon shines on the sea.

The fish is usually cooked in a very simple and traditional way, accompanied by local white wine, Pecorino or Trebbiano d’Abruzzo.

A dinner at the Trabocchi eating fresh fish and drinking excellent local wine costs 35,00 euro a person, the atmosphere is very romantic perfect for an unforgettable evening.

I recommend to book in advance your dinner, the space in a stilt hut is limited. I also suggest to get there a bit early to enjoy the sunset on the Adriatic Sea.

Below a picture of myself with some friends (three Italian friends, a French and a Spanish friend) enjoying a very pleasant evening at Trabocco Sasso della Cajana in Rocca San Giovanni. We had a menu consisting in three different starters, handmade pasta with fish, fried fish, several jars of white wine “vino della casa”, coffee, dessert and a local liquor called Genziana made from a radish and very very bitter. All that for just 35,00 euro per person.

Vasto is well known for a dish called “Brodetto alla Vastese”, consisting in local fish and sea food cooked in fresh tomatoes sauce duly made and served in a terracotta pan. Obviously we had a wonderful Brodetto alla Vastese that day, with local Rose’ wine, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, coffee and dessert. The meal costed 35,00 euro each. And here below other picture of a lunch I had with two friends at the trabocco Lu Cingarelle in Vasto.

The trabocchi experience is something to try if you visit Abruzzo during late Spring, Summer or early Autumn.