155 km from Rome, on the Adriatic coast, lies the picturesque seaside resort of Pescara. This large port city of Italy is the administrative center of the Abruzzo region. Pescara is well known and loved by both tourists and Italians for its healing air, beautiful beaches, interesting sights and rich nightlife full of entertainment. What is still good in Pescara is the presence of its own international airport, which accepts flights, including from all over Italy.
How to get there
The easiest, easiest and fastest way to get to Pescara is by plane - Abruzzo Airport is just three kilometers from the city center. You can easily find the suitable flight in the form below.
Bus route No. 38 starts operating at 6 am (the first flight from the city) and ends at 22:30 (the last flight from the airport). Buses run very often - every 15 minutes, go very close, so there’s not even much point in spending a taxi. A bus stop is located in front of the train station on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Tickets are sold in vending machines at a bus stop.
Abruzzo Airport is 3 km from the center of Pescara
If you are not considering the possibility of getting to Pescara by air, you can still get to the resort without any problems. The easiest option is Rome - Pescara. Regional trains run from Rome to Pescara Centrale main station 4 times a day (the route from Tiburtina station with two transfers, the rest from Termini station are direct).
Tickets cost about 18 euros (2018). Travel time is almost 3.5 hours. In addition to the central station in Pescara, there are three more railway stations, so when planning a trip, it will be useful to take into account their proximity to your place of accommodation. You can find out the timetable and book train tickets online at this link.
Most trains arrive at the central train station Pescara Centrale
You can also take the Rome Pescara route by bus. Departure from Tiburtina bus station 5-9 times a day, from Fiumicino airport - 5 times a day. Transportation is carried out by the European car carrier Flixbus. The fare is from 7 euros (2018). Travel time is about three hours from the bus station and about 4 hours from the airport.
Of course, by train or bus you can get to Pescara not only from Rome. We started from this example, since Rome is the closest of the largest cities. Bologna, Florence, Pisa or Naples are much further away, but the transport connection is exactly the same peppy and lively.
Finally, if you plan to get your own or rented car, from Rome the most obvious way is via the E80 motorway. At the same time admire the amazing views. Along the coast of the Adriatic, Pescara is connected with other resort cities by the A14 (paid) and SS16 (free) roads. The scenery opens up even more luxurious.
You will also need to know that Pescara in Italy has a ferry service with Croatia, namely, with the city of Split and several islands, including the popular tourist destination of Hvar. Travel time on average is from 7 to 10 hours, the cost of a one-way ticket is from 50 to 100 euros.
Beach vacation
The climate of Pescara, like the entire coastal part of the Abruzzo region, is typically Mediterranean: hot sunny summers, warm winters, minimum rainfall. But in the summer, the ball is ruled not so much by natural seasonal temperature changes, but by wind. For the most part, the coolness of the sea during the day is balanced by the cool sea breeze. It does not allow air temperature to rise above 35 degrees.
But sometimes, all the same, a hairdryer can burst on the coast - a hot and dry wind of "African origin." During these hours, abnormal heat is felt on the beaches of Pescara, and you need to be prepared for such a turn of events.
The beach season in Pescara lasts from May to October
The beach season in these places begins in late May. At this time, comfortable conditions for tanning are already coming, but the water is still cool - about 20 degrees. The peak of the swimming season falls on July-September. The water in the sea at this time is warm - about 26 degrees.
The sandy coast of Pescara stretches a little less than 20 km. The water here is clean and clear, the entry into the water is gentle, so in many places it is safe to bathe children. However, with access to the beaches more and more complicated. You can access the “official” free public beach from Corso Umberto I, right from the city center. But the conditions here will be "controversial" - imperfect cleanliness and weak service, which, however, is quite expected for a free city beach.
Beaches in Pescara, both paid and free
Private beaches are a completely different matter. In Pescara, it so happened that the locals organize the so-called "beach clubs". The territory of any such beach-club-beach is carefully fenced, there is all possible beach infrastructure, including cafes, bars, pizzerias and rental of any equipment for water sports. Entrance to the private beach will cost about 20 euros, but the resulting service is definitely worth it.
Many coastal hotels are ready to offer guests their own beach.
If you want to solve the problem of living and a normal beach at once, you should choose a hotel with its own landscaped beach area. In this case, you will even have a private place on the beach with a sunbed and deck chair, which no one else can claim for. At the hotels of Pescara dwell more.
Hotels
Pescara is a fairly large city by local standards, and hotels here may not necessarily be on the beach, but also in the middle of bustling city streets. It is best to immediately look for an option with your own beach.
Of the most fashionable hotels, the 4-star Carlton, Esplanade, Maja and several other hotels of the same level have direct access to the sea and their own beach.
In Pescara you can find hotels for every taste and budget
More budget, but also good options: 3-star Regent (has its own beach), Bellariva (2 minutes walk to the coast), family-run Hotel Ambra Palace (300 meters from the sea).
There are plenty of opportunities for even more unassuming travelers in the city to settle in even more affordable accommodation, including the bed & breakfast format.
You can always choose your placement option based on your preferred criteria and independent reviews at the link below
Sights
Even if you came to the resort only for the sake of the sea and the sun, do not deny yourself the pleasure of seeing the historical sights of Pescara, which are abundant here.
Different objects “compete” for the title of the main attraction, but most of them are somehow connected with the name of the Italian writer Gabriel d'Annunzio, who became famous in the 17th century. In fact, by miracle, even the house of a brilliant creator survived during the world wars. It is located in the Caserma quarter behind the ancient walls.
House of writer Gabriel d'Annunzio
Another attraction of Pescara is the main Catholic cathedral - the Duomo or the Cathedral of St. Zettheus, the patron saint of the city. And even this building is connected with the name of d'Annunzio. The writer was baptized in the old church building, and he vividly and vividly described the construction of a new cathedral in the style of the Italian Renaissance in his works. Even the street on which the cathedral stands is named after him.
Cathedral of St. Zettheus
An impressive monumental building, which is also worth seeing outside and inside, is the Church of the Madonna of the Seven Sorrows. This religious building is of great historical value for the entire region of Abruzzo.
Basilica of the Madonna of the Seven Sorrows
You can also not pass by Aurum - a picturesque building with a complicated history, which now serves as a cultural center and a popular concert and exhibition venue. By the way, the name "Aurum" was invented by the same d'Annunzio, when the building served as a distillery, and it produced the eponymous liquor.
Aurum currently serves as a concert venue
Lovers of history and culture will also appreciate the numerous Pescara museums. So for art, you should go to the gallery of the famous Italian artist Basilio Cascella, get acquainted with the history of the region - to the museum of the peoples of Abruzzo. But those who are looking for something unusual will surely “like” the Pescara Media Museum, introducing the history of the development of the media.
There are a lot of museums in Pescara. Finding something interesting is easy
There is another very famous attraction in Pescara - the cable-stayed bicycle and pedestrian bridge Ponte del Mare. The bridge became famous for the fact that it is considered to be one of the longest pedestrian bridges not only in Italy, but throughout Europe. The largest span of the bridge is 466 m.
Ponte del Mare Footbridge
Events and Entertainment
In addition to the obvious resort entertainment, Pescara has its own events and holidays. For example, if your vacation falls on the last Sunday of July, consider yourself very lucky. After all, on this day every year the whole city celebrates the Fisherman's Day of St. Andrea. Wine flows like water, numerous tastings of delicious fish dishes, dances, music, colorful fireworks take place - everyone walks!
Fisherman's Day (Festa di Sant'Andrea) is held annually in July in Pescara
In mid-July, real connoisseurs of jazz flock to Pescara from all environs. Many come these days specially from other countries. At this time, every year the city hosts a large and important jazz festival of international level - Pescara Jazz.
Another very colorful event takes place from year to year in the Abruzzo region - the traditional knightly tournament La Giostra Cavalleresca di Sulmona. It does not take place in Pescara, but in the neighboring city of Sulmon, but it cannot be ignored because of the most brilliant presentation.
Shopping
In conclusion, let us say a few words about why the city of Pescara is attractive not only for tourists, but also for Italians themselves. This is shopping. There are big sales twice a year: winter ones from January 1 to March 5; summer - from July 1 to August 30.
The center of attraction for shopaholics in Pescara is considered the outlet Città Sant'Angelo
The real "Mecca" for shopping tourism was the Città Sant'Angelo outlet, 10 km from Pescara. In the seasons of big discounts, you can very profitably buy high-quality clothes, cosmetics, and even household appliances and electronics. All this is offered by about one hundred outlets. Those traveling on their own or rented cars will be pleased with the presence of a car center with thousands of free parking spaces.
