What is Giulianova known for?

Refounded in 1471 by Giulio Antonio Acquaviva as a Renaissance ideal city, named for himself after the Tordino battle. Brodetto alla giuliese, the local fish stew thickened with green peppers, served at the lido's traditional restaurants. One of Abruzzo's four main fishing ports, with a working fleet bringing in mantis shrimp, anchovies and seasonal Adriatic catch.

Giulianova is a comune in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo region of Italy, about 48 kilometers from Pescara.

Abruzzo · Teramo

Giulianova

Coastal town split between hilltop Paeseand the lido, rebuilt in 1471 as a Renaissance ideal city by Giulio Antonio Acquaviva.

48 km / 30 mi

Nearest hub (Pescara)

23,369

Population

May–Sep

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Bandiera Blu

Why come

Giulianova sits at the mouth of the Tordino river, with the historic Paese on a hilland the Lido stretched along the Adriatic below. In Roman times this was Castrum Novum, established in the 3rd century BC by colonists from Praetutii territory. The medieval Castrum divi Flaviani was destroyed in the Battle of the Tordino in 1460. Giulio Antonio Acquaviva, Duke of Atri, rebuilt the town immediately afterward on the hill, naming it Giulianova for himself and laying it out as a Renaissance ideal city, with walls and a central piazza. The Duomo of San Flaviano, with its characteristic dome, dates from this rebuild and holds the relics of the saint. The Lido grew from the 19th century around the railway and is now one of Abruzzo's main fishing ports, with brodetto alla giuliese the local fish-stew counterpart to the better-known Vastese. The August Sant'Andrea feast carries the saint by boat along the coast.

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Gallery

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Known for

Duomo di San Flaviano
15th-century cathedral in the hilltop Paese, with a distinctive dome and Renaissance plan from the 1471 Acquaviva refoundation.
Paese
The hilltop historic town at 68 meters, laid out as a Renaissance ideal city by Giulio Antonio Acquaviva after the 1460 destruction of the previous settlement.
Lido
The coastal town with promenade, fishing port and Blue-Flag beach, developed from the 19th-century railway era.
Santuario della Madonna dello Splendore
16th-century sanctuary on the road between Paese and Lido, with annual April pilgrimage marking a 1557 Marian apparition.

When to visit

Best months · May–Sep

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

May through September is the beach season. June and September are the calm weeks, July and August the busy ones. The Lido fills with Italian families on holiday and the lungomare runs late. The water reaches its warmest in early August. The Sant'Andrea procession on August 7 carries the saint's relics by fishing boat along the coast. October still has warm water and good light. November through March is quiet but the Paese stays open year-round, the Duomo too. The Easter Madonna dello Splendore pilgrimage in April marks the start of the inland season.