Pescara
Pescara, capital of the homonymous province in the region of Abruzzo, is located at the mouth of the Aterno River, the longest in the region. Seaside tourism is one of the main resources in the local economy, which is flourishing in terms of both industrial and commercial activities. Even though recent archaeological discoveries have found evidence of human presence in the area 6,000 years ago, Pescara origins can be traced back to Aternum, an ancient Roman hamlet that was famous for its important port. After the arrival of the Lombards, the name of the area was changed to Piscaria (“abundant in fish”) in order to highlight the richness in fish species of its sea. In the Thirteenth century, the region of Abruzzo became a Norman dominion, and in the XVI century, it was conquered by the Turks. During the first decades of the XVIII century, the Austrians took control of the area. The fascinating beaches in the spectacular Abruzzo seaside are surely the reason why every year so many tourists and visitors feel attracted to the prestigious seaside resorts, hotels and restaurants in the city. All this, of course, without underestimating the cultural and urban attractions that this wonderful land offers holiday-makers. Among the main places of interest in the area near Pescara are the impressive Bagno Borbonico, formerly a prison in times of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the majestic Tempio Nazionale della Conciliazione (also known as the Cathedral of St. Cetteus), in which a painting of St. Francis by Guercino is exhibited, the house of Gabriele D’Annunzio, a distinguished citizen, and the Basilica of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori (Our Lady of the Seven Pains) built in Neoclassical style. It is also worth mentioning the well-organised circuit of museums in the city, which basically includes the Fish Museum, the Museum of the Abruzzo People, the “Colonna” Museum of Modern Art and the “Cascella” Town Museum. There are also several folk festivals and frequent exhibitions that bring more life to Pescara. Some of them are the Festival of Our Lady of the Seven Pains, the Ennio Flaiano International Award, the Indie-rocket festival, the Pescara Electronic Artists Meeting and the International Jazz Festival