Beaches
Best Beaches on the Costa dei Trabocchi, Abruzzo
Six beaches along Abruzzo's Costa dei Trabocchi, from Lido Riccio's wide family sand near Ortona to the quieter shingle coves near Fossacesia and Torino di Sangro, all watched over by historic wooden fishing platforms.
The Costa dei Trabocchi runs for roughly 50km between Ortona and Vasto, named for the trabocchi, spider-like wooden fishing platforms built out over the water on stilts, that still stand at intervals along this stretch of the Abruzzo coast. Unlike the fully resort-built beaches further north, this coastline alternates sand, fine shingle and low cliffs, with a disused railway line now converted into the Sentiero Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi, a walking and cycling path that links nearly every beach on this list.
Here are six of the best stops along the Costa dei Trabocchi, from the wide sandy family beach at Lido Riccio near Ortona to the quieter shingle coves further south toward Fossacesia and Torino di Sangro.
Lido Riccio: The Widest Sand on the Trabocchi Coast
Just north of Ortona, Lido Riccio breaks from the shingle-and-cliff pattern found further south with a proper wide sandy beach and a gently sloping seabed - the most straightforwardly family-friendly stop on this stretch of coast.
- Best for: families wanting a full-service sandy beach day, with lifeguards and extensive sunbed rental.
- Good to know: it's an easy stop by train, with Ortona station a short taxi or bike ride from the sand.
Marina di San Vito: A Beach Beside a Working Harbour
San Vito Chietino's main beach sits next to a small fishing harbour rather than a purely tourist marina, which gives Marina di San Vito a more working-coast feel than most Trabocchi Coast stops, along with some of the freshest seafood restaurants on this list.
- Best for: pairing a beach day with fresh, locally caught fish near the harbour.
- Good to know: it's a fine sandy beach with a gentle seabed, distinct from the tiny pebble cove of Spiaggia del Turchino nearby.
Spiaggia del Turchino: A White-Pebble Cove Beneath D'Annunzio's Cliffs
Tucked beneath the cliffs that inspired part of Gabriele D'Annunzio's Il Trionfo della Morte, this small cove of fine white pebbles marks the unofficial start of the Costa dei Trabocchi. Its enclosed, rocky shape keeps the water notably clear and calmer than the open coast.
- Best for: a quieter, more intimate swim than the open sandy beaches nearby.
- Good to know: it's compact, so it fills up fast in July and August - water shoes help on the pebbles.
Rocca San Giovanni Marina: Beach Among the Trabocchi
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This is the stretch with the highest concentration of well-preserved trabocchi, including the well-known Trabocco Punta Cavalluccio, several of which now operate as summer seafood restaurants perched out over the water.
- Best for: dinner on a trabocco platform paired with a beach day beforehand.
- Good to know: book trabocco restaurants well ahead in summer, since seating on the platforms is limited.
Punta della Ginestra: Fossacesia's Shingle Bay
At Fossacesia Marina, below the 12th-century Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, Punta della Ginestra mixes fine shingle and sand beneath low cliffs, with the Sentiero Verde cycle path running directly past it.
- Best for: combining a swim with some history at the nearby abbey.
- Good to know: it's an easy train stop, with Fossacesia-Torino di Sangro station close to the seafront.
Torino di Sangro Marina: The Quietest Stop on This Coast
Where the Sangro river meets the Adriatic, this shingle-and-sand beach stays noticeably quieter than its neighbours, helped by the small wetland at the river mouth and a lower concentration of beach concessions.
- Best for: escaping the crowds without leaving the Trabocchi Coast.
- Good to know: facilities are more limited here than at busier stops, so bring your own shade and gear.
Choosing a Beach on the Costa dei Trabocchi
If you want a straightforward sandy family beach, Lido Riccio and Marina di San Vito are the easiest choices, both with full facilities and gentle seabeds. For the trabocco experience itself, Rocca San Giovanni and Punta della Ginestra have the best concentration of platforms and restaurants. And if you'd rather trade some facilities for fewer crowds, Spiaggia del Turchino's small cove and Torino di Sangro's quiet river-mouth beach are the two to pick. The Sentiero Verde cycle path connects all six, so it's easy to sample more than one in a single day.
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