The Staycation
“By plane, by train, by boat
– it doesn’t matter as long as I can travel.”
We just got back from the coast.
Like most, it’s been many months since we’ve travelled anywhere.
I’d asked PKP where he wanted to go for his birthday. He wanted to walk on a beach. With many restrictions being lifted, and things slowly changing, we made a plan.
Our last trip, over seven months ago was by train, into Puglia, the heel of Italia. We had passed through Guilianova en route, glanced at it’s promenade, and thought it would be a good place to visit sometime. It’s taken till now to get back there.
Again we took the train. Again we boarded an empty train, later joined by just three other people. It took about 20 minutes to travel from Teramo to the beach.
Città di Giulianova is in north Abruzzo. The Teramano Coast, is the longest riviera in the region of Abruzzo. The Coast of Teramo is made up of seven cities, known as the ‘seven sisters’; Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatica, Tortoreto, Silvi, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Pineto and Giulianova.
Like much of Italy, the placed is steeped in history. The Paese Alto, is of Roman origins. We walked up twice and meandered up and down the cobbled streets. There we found the Cathedral of St. Flaviano, built in Renaissance style, with a giant dome, along with many churches and grand, old villas.
On PKP’s birthday, I surprised him with an Ape tour. The Italian three wheelers are reminiscent of the tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka. But the journey was much more sedate; no dodging traffic, no cows in the middle of the road and no races with friends. The driver took us all over Giulianova, right to the outskirts of the town as well as up to the very top of the town. The Ape slowly made it’s way uphill and cornered the narrow streets of the old town with ease. The sea views from The Paese Alto are amazing.
But most people travel here for the Lungomare, Giulianova’s pristine, palm tree lined promenade and sandy beach, facing the Adriatic sea. The lido is made up of a large fishing port, the beach and a yacht harbour. We walked along the beach and promenade countless times. And we walked over to the harbour, in the sweltering heat of the afternoon, to see the ‘caliscendi’, the curious and sophisticated wooden structures, which lean from the rocks to the sea.
This part of Italy’s coastline is very special; with 13 of Abruzzo’s beaches having the accolade of ‘blue flag’; clean, safe bathing on beautiful beaches. But for now there are no tourists. We had the beach to ourselves.
We would recommend it as a destination.
We didn’t go far. We didn’t leave the region. We didn’t even leave the province. But we did get to go away.
Have you enjoyed a staycation recently? Or have you booked one?
© Maggie M / Mother City Time