Ain’t no doubt about it, Teramo province’s sandy beaches especially Roseto degli Abruzzi put the Abruzzo tourist traps of Montesilvano & Francovilla further south to shame.
Roseto is set against a backdrop of verdant rolling hills which lay host to the domed C16th Church of Santissima Annunziata, all thankfully still visible from the beach due to the low rise development the resort, allowing Roseto to offer a lot more charm than its bigger neighbours at the height of summer. It’s never going to be a secluded Caribbean cove but for an Abruzzo Blue Flag beach it scores low on a ‘the overdevelopment rating’ which we think makes it worth a visit for a chilled out day on the beach.
Roseto’s main beach promenade is a mixture of small family-run hotels and Italian-owned second homes. The lido itself is a mixture of both Blue Flag private and public beaches and stretches 10 km in total along the Adriatic Coast. If you are hiring 2 lettini (sun-beds) and a parasol expect to pay up to €10 a day for rental, some of the private beaches such as La Rosa dei Venti prohibits smoking too which is lovely! Nothing worse than sitting on the beach inhaling someone else’s fags…
Roseto degli Abruzzoi’s silky sandbanks allow you to wallow out in into the green waters of the Adriatic quite a way before you need to swim, making it ideal for those that prefer dips to swimming and an ideal beach to take the kids. For those wanting a bit more water activity the up-coast harbour offers every water-sport known to man.
To appreciate Roseto’s past you need to go inland a couple of kms up to its historic centre which is known as Montepagano, this is where Chiesa Santissima Annunziata sits and lays testament to the area’s Roman origins. Distinctly flowery you’ll see why the area was named as the ‘Town of the Roses’ due to the cornucopia of rose and olander that still grows. In the unlikelihood that it does rain try the museum in the Town Hall that hosts a permanent historical display to Abruzzo’s rural communities – open Monday-Friday 9.00am-12noon & 3.30pm-6.30pm.
NB
We have said the beach is chilled, this is true most times apart from the first 2 weeks of August up to the 15th, when the Italian feria (getaway) mean there are a few more bods on the beach than local residents from Teramo, take heed!
Further Reading:
Official Roseto degli Abruzzi website
Author: Roddy Newlands
Roddy Newlands is an Associate Member of Life In Abruzzo, as well as antique book dealer and web and graphic designer. Abruzzo allows him to get his mountain-air fix, & satisfy his passion for pasta & panettone.
