The Trabocchi Coast, which corresponds to the coastal stretch Adriatic of province of Chieti (Abruzzo), is a 70-kilometer coast from Ortona to San Salvo, in Italy. It comprises a number of coves and reefs below the hills that end at the Adriatic Sea marked by the spread of Trabucco – fishing machines on piles. Many of the towns on the Coast maintain their own characteristics and traditions.
The coastal strip begins in the north at the mouth of the Foro river (between the municipalities of Francavilla al Mare and Ortona) and ends in the south at the mouth of the Trigno river. It is varied in appearance, with stretches of low and sandy beach (as in Francavilla, Ortona, Casalbordino, Vasto and San Salvo) and areas of shingle beach in Fossacesia and Torino di Sangro, as well as high and rocky sections in San Vito Chietino and Rocca San Giovanni and stretches of pebbles, often separated by cliffs; the presence of the trabocchi on the coast, however, also continues towards the south, along the entire Molise coast up to the Gargano.
The coast winds through hills and valleys that end on the sea, creating natural environments of various kinds. The urbanization that characterizes the Adriatic coast from Rimini to Ortona is not as much in evidence here, even if building speculation and “francavillizzazione” (the construction of buildings close to the coastline that limit access and visibility of the sea, as happened in Francavilla al Mare) threaten the integrity of the natural environment.
The region has a strong economic induction thanks to tourism, very present thanks to the exceptional landscape of the coast that has remained in the imagination of many foreigners as a symbol of Italy.
