Pescara
From the CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pescara is a province capital in the region of Abruzzo, central Italy. With a population of 122,404 inhabitants (beginning of the 2007) Pescara is the biggest city of the region and one of the most important towns of on the Adriatic sea. The city is 15 km far away from Chieti, another province capital: the whole urban area of Pescara and Chieti has a population of about 350.000 people.
Contents |
A brief introduction
Pescara was completely destroyed during the second world war by several heavy bombings carried on by US air force. At the moment there are very few signs of the city past.
The main street of the city is Corso Umberto I, which starts from Piazza Salotto and reaches the coast at Piazza Primo Maggio. Corso Manthonè, the main street of the old town, has been being the centre of the nightlife of the city for many years now. The City Hall and the administration of the province are in Piazza Italia, near by the river.
The harbour is located in the final part of the river. Beside the southern part of the harbour docks there is a modern marine that is one of the biggest in the Adriatic sea.
Pescara, together with Chieti, is the seat of the “G.d'Annunzio” univeristy: about 17.000 students attend the faculties of Economics, Architecture, Foreign Languages and Literature. The iniversity is located in the southern part of the city, near by the business district built up in the recent years.
The city shore is 16 km and it is a sand beach divided in two "riviera": the one in the north side of the river and the one in the southern side. The northern part of the riviera is very lively during summer because many restaurants, bars, gelaterias and disco clubs are located all over its length.
CS in Pescara
The CS community has grown up considerably from the second half of 2007 and the first months of 2008. This was due by the presence of some active members who have started to involve some other people in the cs mission. The Pescara group has been existing since early 2008.
Couchsurfers
There are currently about 50 Couchsurfers in Pescara. The community is pretty active and there are several members ready to welcome travelers by meeting or hosting them. Some of the local members have also been very active with the organization of the two regional CS meetings, held in the town. Moreover, Pescara has two city ambassadors.
CS Meetings
Pescara local meetings are usually held informally once or more times a week in presence of guests of local members. Moreover, some of the local members have organised the two regional meetings which have taken places in the city.
Italian Adriatic Surfing Network
Pescara is included in Italian Adriatic surfing network that is a network of cs members who live on the eastern cost of Italy with the aim to help and host those travellers who want to discover the eastern part of Italy.
What to do
In Pescara
Generally Pescara is a lively place. There are a few events (also internationally renowned) which take place in the city and it offers some chances to enjoy night life.
Events
- First months of the year- Carnival (occurs immediately before Lent): the city is crossed by a parade that attracts thousands of people.
- April- Etno music festival: a festival about world music.
- First sunday of June- Seven Pains Holy Mary celebration: it's an ancient celebration from the XVII and it involves decades thousand people every year entertained by an amusement park.
- June/July- International Flaiano Festival: it's a movie, theater and literature festival with an international reputation.
- July- Opera Festival: an annual event that in 2008 offered a great programm.
- July- Summer Jazz Festival (Pescara Jazz): it's the oldest Italian summer jazz festival.
- July- Gonfaloni Boat Race on the river: it's a boat race that involves teams from several nations invited for the occasion.
- Last Sunday of July- Festa di Sant'Andrea: the sailors celebration of St.Andrew, it attracts decade thousand people with an amusement park and a fireworks show
- July/August- Summer Cultural Season: the Ente Manifestazioni Pescaresi organizes concerts of opera, classical music, cabaret, acrobats and clown shows.
- July or August- Indierocket summer festival: indie rock festival with international bands.
- October- Jazz'n'Fall Ente Manifestazioni Pescaresi: international jazz festival.
- Winter: Pescara Electronic Art Meeting: it's a meeting about digital art.
- November- Literature Festival: it's a literature that gives the chance to readers to meet some of the most famous national authors.
- December- winter Indierocket festival: indie-rock festival oriented to electronic music.
Around Pescara
What to see
Pescara itself looks like a modern town. But in the area around (withint 100 km) there are many interesting places to visit in terms of art and nature.
In Pescara
Museums
- Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo
- Gabriele D'Annunzio's house
- Basilio Cascella Art Gallery
- Vittoria Colonna Modern Art Museum
- Villa Urania Castelli Pottery Museum
Around Pescara
How to get there
It is possible to reach Pescara with a comprehensive transport system
By train
There are four train stations in Pescara. Two of them are devoted to the local transport. The main station is Pescara Centrale that is located in the very central heart of the city: the station, which is the largest in Abruzzo, and one of the largest in the whole of Italy, is located in adriatic rail line and it is connected also to Rome. Pescara Porta Nuova (in the central part of the city but closer to the old town and to the university) is devoted to the local transport but some trains to and from Rome stop there.
By bus
There is a direct bus line to Roma Tiburtina station (Rome) via Pescara Centrale (about a two and a half hour ride). There are also buses to Naples and other italian cities. Have a look at the following links (only in Italian):
Flying there
Pescara Airport (also known as Abruzzo International Airport) is connected to several european cities with season and regular flights. Ryanair operates there. There is a bus (number 38) that operates the transport service from the airport terminal to the city centre (it stops 150mt from the central station) every 15 minutes. (1€ for a single fare). Taxis are available outside the Arrivals area: a trip to central rail station costs around 15€.
By ferry
In summer there are ferries and hydrofoils to Croatia run primarily by Jadrolinija and SNAV to Split and islands in central Dalmatia.
By car
The city is crossed by two highways (autostrade), the A14 (Bologna- Taranto) and the A25 (Rome-Pescara) which are part of the pan-European roads (respectivley the E55 and the E80). Moreover, it is possible to reach Pescara by using several main and secondary roads: the main ones are the Tiburtina (SS 5, Rome- Pescara) and the Adriatic national road (SS 16, Padua- Otranto)
Tips to get there
The best way to go to or to move from Pescara up north or down the south is by train.
The rail line track between Pescara and Rome is very old: therefore trains are slow and take a long time (around 4 hours), but the scenarios you can enjoy during the trip are amazing. Travellers to and from Rome are recommended to use the bus connection.
