Beaches
Sandy vs Pebble Beaches in Abruzzo: Which to Choose
Abruzzo's coast splits fairly cleanly into two types: wide sandy resort beaches to the north and around Pescara, and shingle-and-pebble coves along the Costa dei Trabocchi to the south. Here's how to pick.
Abruzzo's roughly 130km of coastline isn't uniform. North of Pescara and around the city itself, the coast is almost entirely fine sand — wide, flat resort beaches built for sunbeds and long walks at the water's edge. South of Ortona, on the Costa dei Trabocchi, the coastline turns rockier and the beaches shift to shingle, pebble and mixed sand-and-pebble coves, often watched over by the trabocchi, the wooden fishing platforms the coast is named for.
Neither is objectively better — it depends on what you're after. Sand is easier on bare feet and better for small children and sandcastles; pebble beaches tend to have clearer water, fewer crowds, and a wilder, more scenic backdrop.
Where to find Abruzzo's best sandy beaches
Abruzzo's sandiest beaches run along the Riviera delle Palme in the north and around Pescara, with wide, gently shelving strips that are easiest for families, sunbathing and long beach walks.
Roseto degli Abruzzi
The Lido delle Rose is about as classic a sandy resort beach as Abruzzo gets: wide, flat, Blue Flag-rated, and backed by rose gardens instead of a busy road.
- Best for: barefoot walking and small children, thanks to the very gently sloping seabed.
- Good to know: the sand runs for over seven kilometres, so there's rarely a shortage of space even at Blue Flag standard.
Lido Riccio (Ortona)
A long run of golden sand below Ortona's cliffs, flat enough for a cycling path to run the length of it — one of the easiest beaches on this list to walk barefoot end to end.
- Best for: visitors who want proper sand without heading all the way north to the Riviera delle Palme.
- Good to know: it's the sandiest beach on the Costa dei Trabocchi, unlike the pebble coves further south.
Francavilla al Mare
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Abruzzo's oldest seaside resort has 8km of fine sand and a palm-lined promenade, proof that the coast's sandiest stretches aren't limited to the north.
- Best for: a full beach day with a lively promenade attached.
- Good to know: the beach splits into Piazza Sirena and Piazza Adriatico, both of which have held Blue Flag status in recent years.
Where to find Abruzzo's best pebble and shingle beaches
South of Ortona, the Costa dei Trabocchi trades sand for shingle, pebble and rockier coves, with clearer water and the coast's historic wooden fishing trestles as a backdrop.
Spiaggia del Turchino
A small white-pebble cove at San Vito Chietino, where the Costa dei Trabocchi properly begins beneath the cliffs D'Annunzio wrote about.
- Best for: clear, sheltered water in an intimate setting away from the bigger resort beaches.
- Good to know: water shoes help, since the pebbles and rocky patches underfoot can be uncomfortable barefoot.
Rocca San Giovanni Marina
A shingle-and-sand beach framed by some of the coast's best-preserved trabocchi, quieter and rockier underfoot than the resort beaches further north.
- Best for: pairing a swim with dinner at one of the trabocco restaurants nearby.
- Good to know: showers and toilets are more limited here than at the bigger resort beaches, so plan accordingly.
Punta Aderci
Abruzzo's wildest stretch of coast, inside a protected nature reserve, mixes dune-backed sand with pebble coves and has no built-up development at all.
- Best for: visitors who want an undeveloped, walk-in beach experience over a resort setting.
- Good to know: there are no facilities inside the reserve, so bring your own water, shade and anything else you need.
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