The charm of July Pescara
Pescara is a small town in the Italian province of Abruzzo, located along the Adriatic Sea, one and a half hundred kilometers from Rome.
Magnificent beaches with golden sand, warm gentle sea, mild climate, mixed smell of pine and cypress, interesting architecture, friendly residents - these are sweet memories of two weeks spent on the Abruzzo coast in July.
You don't often hear foreign speech here, it seems that Italians mainly rest in this place. The multi-kilometer beaches are well equipped and safe, suitable for vacationers with children. A lifeguard is on duty at each from 10.00 to 18.00.
The weather is very changeable, it is influenced by coastal and sea breezes, as well as dry hot African wind fen.
The sea is absolutely calm, then quite stormy. Red and white flags on lifeguard towers indicate whether there is a danger to bathers.
It is noteworthy that in Pescara there are both paid beaches and small free zones of the coast.
From the middle to the end of July, it is not very crowded, except on Saturday and Sunday, so there are wonderful memories of the noise of the surf and wind, a calm lulling atmosphere.
The most popular establishments are gelaterias, which serve not only delicious Italian ice cream, but also various soft drinks, coffee, alcohol. In Pescara, as in other regions of Italy, there are many pizzerias with delicious samples of this dish.
Abruzzo is the birthplace of the famous pasta carbonara, and here it is definitely worth trying, as well as pasta with local seafood.
But it is necessary to pay attention to those establishments where a lamb is painted on the sign, which means that arrosticini, small lamb kebabs, are served here. To try it out, you need to take at least 10. The local red wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is great for both arrosticini and other meat dishes.
There is a promenade along the coast, as in many resorts. But in Pescara there is a unique Ponte del Mare bridge, which can only be used on foot or by bicycle. This is part of the Adriatic Bike Path stretching for 1300 km along the coast, it is a great pleasure to ride on it.
There is a lot of entertainment for children and adults in Pescara: rides, dances, concerts, fairs.
Walking around the city, especially in the evening, when the heat subsides, is a pleasure. In the summer months, many streets from 20.00 to 0.30 become pedestrian, closed to all types of transport.
There are not so many old buildings in the city, because the Abruzzo coast suffered a lot during the two world wars, especially during the Second World War.
Some old buildings have been preserved only in the Kazerm area. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a masterpiece of Neo-Gothic, reminds of Paris and Vilnius (very similar to the Church of St. Anna). The architecture of the palazzo and villas in the Liberty style is amazing.
The charm was enhanced by a jazz festival in Pescara itself and a classical music festival in the nearby town of Chieti, a visit to Ortona and the Coast of Trambocca, a trip to the amazing medieval world of the Citta Sant'Angelo commune and walks along the pine promenade of Foggetta.