Hi, everyone: My wife & I and another couple have a great opportunity for a week in Vasto on the Adriatic Sea. I don't find much about the Adriatic side of Italy in Rick's travel writings. Has anyone experienced the Abruzzi region in general, or Vasto / Pescara area in particular? Thanks in advance. Fred
If you don't get many responses here, you might try Tripadvisor forums.
In my experience, the Adriatic side is mostly a vacation paradise for Italians. Even few Europeans vacation there. It may be helpful to learn a few Italian phrases! I have family in Riccioni/Rimini area and find it absolutely beautiful. Rick Steves HATES Rimini, but I love it!! Don't know when you're going, but if in summer, the sand is the nicest in all of Italy, and the water is much warmer on the Adriatic side than the Med side. Seriously, the sand is really nice and fine.
Agree with the other poster to look on Trip Advisor. Any time you have an "opportunity" to visit Italy you SHOULD, no matter what the city is!
Thanks for the quick responses! We're going to book this week, and are looking forward to visiting that area of Italy. We've traveled quite a bit in Europe, but never the Adriatic coast. Fred
We enjoyed Vasto. There's a beach town and high above the shore is the older part of town. Small, but authentic. We were early and there was a good market on the streets where farmers had come in from the rural areas. Further down the coast, we stayed at Termoli and enjoyed it. The real treasure down there is the Gargano peninsula. The Foresta Umbra is a fantastic place, an example of Italy's original forest cover. The town of Vieste at the tip of the peninsula is worth a stay. http://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/gargano-itinerary.html#.Um1Rjcu9KSM The beachy attractions get the tourist press, but there are plenty of interesting attractions along that part of the coast.