Abruzzo is not only mountains, national parks, wild nature and wild animals. In Chieti province on the Adriatic coast, there’s a greenway that’s considered by those who have travelled it to be Italy’s most beautiful with a sea view – the Trabocchi Coast Greenway.

The route is named after the trabocchi – wooden fishing constructions on piles – whose origins date back to Phoenician times. Anchored to the coast and leaning out over the water, these machines made it possible to fish even in adverse weather conditions, avoiding the risks of venturing out to sea. In his book Trionfo della Morte, writer Gabriele D'Annunzio described the trabocchi as colossal amphibian skeletons; the platforms have long arms called antennae with large, meshed nets to catch fish. There are 25 'trabocchi' along the cycle route. In recent years, many have been transformed into characteristic restaurants, where you can taste the catch of the day and other local specialities whilst sitting above the waves.

The Trabocchi Coast Greenway runs 42 kilometres (26 mi) on a railway track that closed in the early 2000s. From Ortona to Vasto, it follows the former Adriatica line which operated from 1863 until 2005. You can travel the cycle route in both directions and on any bike as the road surface is smooth and flat. It’s possible to complete the itinerary in a day, but you can also break it up into several stages as several towns lie en route: Ortona, San Vito Chietino, Rocca San Giovanni, Fossacesia, Casalbordino and Vasto. Thanks to these factors, this adventure is suitable for anyone, including families. Moreover, the route is almost entirely traffic-free. It earned the Italian Green Road Award 2021 thanks to its infrastructure.

The easiest way to reach this adventure is by train. The Trabocchi train line, by Trentitalia and the Abruzzo region, stops in the towns listed above. You can take your bike with you free of charge. You’ll find the latest information on the line and can purchase tickets here: trenitalia.com/en.html. If you need to hire a bicycle, there are several rental shops along the route.

Now all you have to do is get on your bike and experience the thrill of discovering a UNESCO World Heritage coastline. Enjoy your ride!