View source for Pescara

{{About|the city in Italy|the province|Province of Pescara|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Pescara
| native_name         = {{native name|nap|Piscàrë}}
| official_name       = Città di Pescara
| image_skyline       = File:Pescara Montage 2018.png
| image_caption = '''Top''': port of Pescara and Gran Sasso d'Italia<br />'''Centre''': Palazzo Imperato; Fountain La Nave; and Church of the Sacred Heart<br />'''Bottom''': Palazzo di Città; and Aurum Museum
| image_shield        = Araldico Città di Pescara.svg
|motto={{native name|la|HÆC EST CIVITAS ATERNI PORTA APRUTII ET SERA REGNI|parensize=90%}}<br><small>"This is the city of Aternum, gate of Abruzzi and border of the Kingdom"</small>
| image_map           =
| coordinates         = {{coord|42|27|50|N|14|12|51|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position =
| region              = [[Abruzzo]]
| province            = [[Province of Pescara|Pescara]] (PE)
|established_date     = 1811
| frazioni            = San Silvestro
| mayor               = [[Carlo Masci]]
| mayor_party         = [[Forza Italia (2013)|FI]] 
|elevation_min_m      = 0
| elevation_footnotes =<!--for references: use  tags-->
|elevation_max_m      = 180
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 34.36
| population_demonym  = Pescaresi
| population_footnotes =
| population_as_of    = 30 September 2018
| population_total    = 119554
| pop_density_footnotes =
|day=10 October
| website             = {{official website|http://comune.pescara.it}}
| footnotes           =
| imagesize           =
| image_alt           =
| image_flag          = Flag of Pescara.svg
| shield_alt          = Pescara-Gonfalone.png
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| pushpin_map_alt     =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| twin1               =
| twin1_country       =
| postal_code         = 65100
| area_code           = 085
|istat=068028
|saint=[[Cetteus|Saint Cetteus]]
}}

'''Pescara''' ({{IPA|it|pesˈkaːra|lang|It-Pescara.ogg}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Pescara|title=Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online|last=Canepari|first=Luciano|access-date=1 May 2015|language=it|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053614/http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=Pescara|url-status=live}}</ref> {{langx|nap|label=[[Neapolitan language|Abruzzese]]|Pescàrë}}; {{langx|nap|label=[[Neapolitan language|Pescarese]]|Piscàrë}}) is the capital city of the [[province of Pescara]], in the [[Abruzzo]] [[Regions of Italy|region]] of [[Italy]]. It is the most populated city in Abruzzo, with 118,657 (January 1, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abruzzo (Italy): Provinces, Major Cities & Communes - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/italy/cities/abruzzo/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.citypopulation.de |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626133002/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/italy/cities/abruzzo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> residents (and approximately 350,000 including the surrounding metropolitan area).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Z. Khan |first1=Ahmed |last2=Quynh Le |first2=Xuan |last3=Corijn |first3=Eric |last4=Canters |first4=Frank |date=January 2013 |title=Sustainability in the Coastal Urban Environment: Thematic Profiles of Resources and their Users |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265467671 |website=ResearchGate |publisher=Sapienza University Press |page=90 |format=pdf |publication-place=Rome |isbn=9788895814902 |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=22 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422221152/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265467671_Sustainability_in_the_Coastal_Urban_Environment_Thematic_Profiles_of_Resources_and_their_Users |url-status=live }}</ref> Located on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] coast at the mouth of the [[Aterno-Pescara|River Aterno-Pescara]], the present-day municipality was formed in 1927 joining the municipalities of the old Pescara fortress, the part of the city to the south of the river, and Castellamare Adriatico, the part of the city to the north of the river. The surrounding area was formed into the province of Pescara.

The main commercial street of the city is Corso Umberto I, which runs between two squares, starting from ''Piazza della Repubblica'' and reaching the seacoast in ''Piazza Primo Maggio''. The rectangle that it forms with Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Via Nicola Fabrizi is home of the main shopping district, enclosed in a [[Road space rationing|driving restriction zone]], where several of the best fashion shops are located. Corso Manthoné, the course of the old Pescara, has, for many years, been the center of the nightlife of the city. City hall and the administration of the province are in Piazza Italia, near the river, and in the area between here and the [[D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara|D'Annunzio University]] campus to the south, a business district has grown up over the years, while the [[Marina]] is situated to the immediate south of the mouth of the river. Pescara is also served by an international airport, the [[Abruzzo Airport]], and one of the major touristic ports of [[Adriatic Sea]] and Italy, the [[Port of Pescara]].

== Geography ==
Pescara is situated at sea level on the Adriatic coast and has developed from some centuries BC onwards at the strategic position around the mouth of the Aterno-Pescara River. The coast is low and sandy and the beach extends, unbroken for some distance to both the north and the south of the river, reaching a width of approximately {{convert|140|m|yd}} in the area around a ''pineta'' (a small pine forest) to the north. To the south the pine forest that once gave shade to bathers along much of the Adriatic coast, has almost disappeared near the beach, but remains within the [[Nature Reserve Pineta Dannunziana]].

The urban fabric of the city spreads over a flat T-shaped area, which occupies the valley around the river and the coastal strip. To the northwest and the southwest, the city is also expanding into the surrounding hills which were first occupied in the Neolithic period.

The whole city is affected by the presence of groundwater, the level of which varies by up to a metre, being at its highest in spring due to snow melting in the mountains inland.

The city is very close to the mountains, and the ski slopes of Passo Lanciano are a 30 minute drive away.

The city is set to expand on 1 January 2027, when neighboring towns of Montesilvano and Spoltore will be annexed into the city. The residents of the three towns voted in a referendum on the merger on 25 May 2014. 70.32% of Pescara voters approved the annexation, also 52.23% of Montesilvano and 51.15% of Spoltore voters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-27 |title=Referendum 'Nuova Pescara',64% dicono sì - Notizie - Ansa.it |url=https://www.ansa.it/abruzzo/notizie/2014/05/27/referendum-nuova-pescara64-dicono-si_3ac18bb6-3bb7-4a30-b17d-413f23d79a06.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Agenzia ANSA |language=it}}</ref> The regional law approving the merger was passed by the regional council on 8 August 2018, with the merger to become law on 1 January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nuovo Comune di Pescara {{!}} Città di Pescara |url=https://www.comune.pescara.it/action:c_g482:nuova.pescara |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.comune.pescara.it}}</ref> It was later delayed into 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centro |first=Il |title=Nuova Pescara nascerà a gennaio 2023 |url=https://www.ilcentro.it/pescara/nuova-pescara-nascer%C3%A0-a-gennaio-2023-1.2551692 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=il Centro}}</ref> and again into 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centro |first=Il |title=Nuova Pescara, approvata la legge per la fusione al 2027. Il nome? Solo Pescara |url=https://www.ilcentro.it/pescara/nuova-pescara-approvata-la-legge-per-la-fusione-al-2027-il-nome-solo-pescara-1.3085275 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=il Centro}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Pescara has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Cfa) with [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] influences. The city's climate is characterized by hot summers and cool winters. Since its driest month has {{convert|34|mm|in|abbr=in}} of precipitation, the city cannot be solely classified as Mediterranean. Not to mention, although there is a dry tendency in early summer, August (late summer) is as wet as the winter month of February, which is unusual for the Mediterranean pattern.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf |first1=Markus |last1=Kottek |first2=Jürgen |last2=Grieser |first3=Christoph |last3=Beck |first4=Bruno |last4=Rudolf |first5=Franz |last5=Rube |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated |journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift |date=June 2006 |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=259–263 |access-date=29 March 2013 |doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130 |bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412021016/http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/4/439/2007/hessd-4-439-2007.pdf |first1=M. C. |last1=Peel |first2=B. L. |last2=Finlayson |first3=T. A. |last3=McMahon |title=Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |year=2007 |volume=4 |pages=439–473 |access-date=29 March 2013 |doi=10.5194/hessd-4-439-2007 |issue=2 |doi-access=free |archive-date=28 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828045342/https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/4/439/2007/hessd-4-439-2007.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The average [[temperature]] is around {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the coldest month (January) and {{convert|24.5|°C|1|abbr=on}} in the warmest month (July). The lowest temperature recorded in the city was {{convert|-13|°C|0|abbr=on}} on 4 January 1979. The highest was registered on 30 August 2007 at {{convert|45|°C|0|abbr=on}}. [[Precipitation]] is low (around {{convert|676|mm|1|abbr=on}} per annum) and concentrated mainly in the late autumn.

Pescara is a coastal city, but its climate is influenced by the surrounding mountains (the [[Maiella National Park|Maiella]] and the chain of [[Gran Sasso d'Italia|Gran Sasso]]). When the wind is southwesterly, Pescara experiences a [[Foehn wind]] that often reaches {{convert|100|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, causing a sudden increase in temperature and decrease in relative humidity, and for that reason winters with temperatures that exceed {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}} almost daily are not unknown. Pescara experiences 35 days annually with minimum temperature below {{convert|0|C|F|abbr=on}}.<ref name=WMOClino/>

Under northeasterly winds Pescara suffers precipitation which is generally weak, but can be much more intense if accompanied by a [[Extratropical cyclone|depression]]. Also from the north east comes winter weather from [[Siberia]] that, on average, brings abundant snowfalls every 3–4 years. In summer the weather is mostly stable and sunny with temperatures that, thanks to the sea breeze, rarely exceed 35 degrees unless a southwesterly [[Libeccio]] is blowing. Particularly in summer, but also in winter, the high humidity leads to morning and evening mist or haze.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Pescara (1951–2000)
|Jan record high C = 23.3
|Feb record high C = 24.4
|Mar record high C = 26.6
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 34.9
|Jun record high C = 35.4
|Jul record high C = 38.4
|Aug record high C = 40.5
|Sep record high C = 35.5
|Oct record high C = 31.2
|Nov record high C = 27.6
|Dec record high C = 26.0
|Jan record low C = -10.5
|Feb record low C = -6.8
|Mar record low C = -5.3
|Apr record low C = -0.4
|May record low C = 1.7
|Jun record low C = 7.3
|Jul record low C = 11.0
|Aug record low C = 10.5
|Sep record low C = 6.3
|Oct record low C = 3.0
|Nov record low C = -1.7
|Dec record low C = -5.2
|Jan high C = 10.4
|Feb high C = 11.4
|Mar high C = 13.5
|Apr high C = 16.9
|May high C = 21.3
|Jun high C = 25.3
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.3
|Sep high C = 25.0
|Oct high C = 20.4
|Nov high C = 15.5
|Dec high C = 11.9
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 7.0
|Feb mean C = 7.7
|Mar mean C = 9.7
|Apr mean C = 12.7
|May mean C = 16.9
|Jun mean C = 20.8
|Jul mean C = 23.5
|Aug mean C = 23.4
|Sep mean C = 20.4
|Oct mean C = 16.2
|Nov mean C = 11.8
|Dec mean C = 8.4
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 3.6
|Feb low C = 3.9
|Mar low C = 5.8
|Apr low C = 8.5
|May low C = 12.5
|Jun low C = 16.3
|Jul low C = 18.6
|Aug low C = 18.5
|Sep low C = 15.8
|Oct low C = 12.1
|Nov low C = 8.2
|Dec low C = 4.8
| year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 60.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 59.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 53.8
|May precipitation mm = 37.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 42.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 35.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 43.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 62.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 76.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 78.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 83.5
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 6.4
| Feb precipitation days = 6.3
| Mar precipitation days = 6.6
| Apr precipitation days = 5.9
| May precipitation days = 4.7
| Jun precipitation days = 4.6
| Jul precipitation days = 3.7
| Aug precipitation days = 3.8
| Sep precipitation days = 5.1
| Oct precipitation days = 7.0
| Nov precipitation days = 7.5
| Dec precipitation days = 7.7
| year precipitation days =
| source 1 = Regione Abruzzo<ref name=Clim>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240630102234/https://www.regione.abruzzo.it/system/files/agricoltura/agrometereologia/VALORI_MEDI_CLIMATICI_NELLA_REGIONE_ABRUZZO.pdf
| archive-date = 30 June 2024
| url = https://www.regione.abruzzo.it/system/files/agricoltura/agrometereologia/VALORI_MEDI_CLIMATICI_NELLA_REGIONE_ABRUZZO.pdf
| title = VALORI MEDI CLIMATICI DAL 1951 AL 2000 NELLA REGIONE ABRUZZO
| publisher= Regione Abruzzo
| access-date = 30 November 2024}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| location = Pescara ([[Abruzzo Airport]]), 1981–2010 normals
| single line = Yes
| metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Y
| Jan high C = 11.4
| Feb high C = 11.8
| Mar high C = 14.7
| Apr high C = 18.1
| May high C = 23.1
| Jun high C = 27.0
| Jul high C = 29.7
| Aug high C = 29.5
| Sep high C = 25.9
| Oct high C = 21.3
| Nov high C = 16.1
| Dec high C = 12.7
| Year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 6.5
| Feb mean C = 6.8
| Mar mean C = 9.2
| Apr mean C = 12.6
| May mean C = 17.2
| Jun mean C = 21.0
| Jul mean C = 23.6
| Aug mean C = 23.7
| Sep mean C = 20.1
| Oct mean C = 16.0
| Nov mean C = 11.1
| Dec mean C = 7.9
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 1.5
| Feb low C = 1.7
| Mar low C = 3.8
| Apr low C = 7.1
| May low C = 11.3
| Jun low C = 15.0
| Jul low C = 17.4
| Aug low C = 18.0
| Sep low C = 14.3
| Oct low C = 10.8
| Nov low C = 6.1
| Dec low C = 3.2
| Year low C = 
| Jan dew point C = 0.7
| Feb dew point C = 0.5
| Mar dew point C = 2.8
| Apr dew point C = 6.2
| May dew point C = 10.6
| Jun dew point C = 14.2
| Jul dew point C = 15.9
| Aug dew point C = 16.6
| Sep dew point C = 13.4
| Oct dew point C = 10.2
| Nov dew point C = 5.9
| Dec dew point C = 2.4
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 49.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 46.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 54.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 46.0
| May precipitation mm = 30.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 47.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 31.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 41.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 63.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 69.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 85.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 75.3
| Jan precipitation days = 5.3
| Feb precipitation days = 5.5
| Mar precipitation days = 5.8
| Apr precipitation days = 5.4
| May precipitation days = 4.5
| Jun precipitation days = 5
| Jul precipitation days = 3.1
| Aug precipitation days = 3.9
| Sep precipitation days = 5.1
| Oct precipitation days = 6.2
| Nov precipitation days = 7.5
| Dec precipitation days = 7.5
| Jan humidity    =74
| Feb humidity    =73
| Mar humidity    =72
| Apr humidity    =71
| May humidity    =72
| Jun humidity    =70
| Jul humidity    =69
| Aug humidity    =71
| Sep humidity    =72
| Oct humidity    =75
| Nov humidity    =76
| Dec humidity    =76
| Jand sun  =3.1    
| Febd sun  =3.9   
| Mard sun  =4.9   
| Aprd sun  =6.4   
| Mayd sun  =7.8   
| Jund sun  =8.7   
| Juld sun  =9.8   
| Augd sun  =8.9   
| Sepd sun  =7.3   
| Octd sun  =5.5   
| Novd sun  =3.7   
| Decd sun  =2.9    
| Jan sun  =96.1
| Feb sun  =109.2
| Mar sun  =151.9
| Apr sun  =192.0
| May sun  =241.8
| Jun sun  =261.0
| Jul sun  =303.8
| Aug sun  =275.9
| Sep sun  =219.0
| Oct sun  =170.5
| Nov sun  =111.0
| Dec sun  =89.9
| source = [[NOAA]] (humidity and sun 1961–1990)<ref name=WMOClino>{{cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/Pescara_16230.csv |website=ncei.noaa.gov |title=WMO Climate Normals for 1981-2010: Pescara-16230 |access-date=1 March 2024 |format=XLS |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301161550/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/Pescara_16230.csv |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= NOAA>
{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/IY/16230.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]
| title = Pescara Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = July 1, 2016}}</ref>
}}

== History ==
{{Main|History of Pescara}}
[[File:Pescara - corso Manthoné - 01.jpg|alt=|thumb|Old town]]
Pescara's origins precede the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] conquest. It was founded to be the port of [[Vestini]] and [[Marrucini]] [[Italic peoples|tribes]] to trade with the peoples of the Orient, a supporting role that was held for centuries. The name of both the town and the river was [[Aternum]], it was connected to Rome through the [[Via Valeria|Via Claudia Valeria]] and the [[Via Tiburtina]]. The main building was the temple of ''Jovis Aternium''. The town was an important port for trade with the [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern provinces]] of the Empire.

In the [[Middle Ages]] it was destroyed by the [[Lombards]] (597). [[Cetteus|Saint Cetteus]], the town's patron saint, was a [[bishop]] of the 6th century, elected to the see of [[Amiternum]] in [[Sabina (region)|Sabina]] (today the city of [[San Vittorino]]) in 590, during the pontificate of [[Pope Gregory I|Gregory the Great]].<ref name="santiebeati.it">{{Cite web |url=http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90550 |title=San Ceteo (Peregrinus) di Amiterno<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=1 August 2008 |archive-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220232024/http://santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90550 |url-status=live }}</ref>  His legend goes that he was executed by the Lombards at Amiternum by being thrown off a bridge with a stone tied around his neck; his body floated to Pescara.<ref name="santiebeati.it"/>[[File:Gabriele D'Annunzio.jpg|thumb|right|The poet [[Gabriele D'Annunzio|Gabriele d'Annunzio]]]]In 1095 Pescara was a fishing village enriched with monuments and churches. In 1140 [[Roger II of Sicily|Roger of Sicily]] conquered the town, giving rise to a period in which it was destroyed by armies ravaging the [[Kingdom of Sicily]]. The name of ''Piscaria'' ("abounding with fish") is mentioned for the first time in this period. Several seignors ruled over Pescara afterwards, including [[Rainaldo Orsini]], [[Louis, Duke of Savoy|Louis of Savoy]], and [[Francesco del Borgo]], the vicar of king [[Ladislaus of Naples]], who had the fortress and the tower built. The subsequent rulers were the [[House of Ávalos|D'Ávalos]]. In 1424 the famous [[condottiero]] [[Muzio Attendolo Sforza|Muzio Attendolo]] died here. Another adventurer, [[Jacopo Caldora]], conquered the town in 1435 and 1439. In the following years Pescara was repeatedly attacked by the [[Republic Venice|Venetians]], and later, as part of the Spanish [[Kingdom of Naples]], it was turned into a massive [[Fortification|fortress]].

In 1566 it was besieged by 105 [[Ottoman Empire|Turk]] [[galley]]s. It resisted fiercely and the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] only managed to ravage the surrounding territory.

At the beginning of the 18th century Pescara had some 3,000 inhabitants, half of them living in Castellammare, a small [[frazione]] of the fortress. In 1707 it was attacked by [[Austria]]n troops under the command of the [[George Olivier, count of Wallis|Count of Wallis]]: the town, led by [[Giovanni Girolamo II Acquaviva]], resisted for two months before capitulating.
[[File:Palazzo del Governo Pescara.jpg|thumb|Government building, seat of the Province of Pescara]]
Pescara was always part of the [[Kingdom of Naples]], apart from the brief age of the [[Parthenopean Republic|Republic of Naples]] of 1798–99. The town was therefore attacked by the pro-[[Bourbon house|Bourbon]] [[Giuseppe Pronio]]. In 1800 Pescara fell to [[First French Empire|French]] troops, becoming an important military stronghold of [[Joseph Bonaparte]]'s reign. Castellammare, which now had 3,000 inhabitants of its own, became a separate municipality.

In 1814, Pescara's [[Carbonari|Carboneria]] revolted against [[Joachim Murat]]. There, on 15 May 1815, the king undersigned one of the first constitutions of the [[History of Italy|Italian]] [[Unification of Italy|Risorgimento]]. In the following years Pescara became a symbol of the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]]'s violent restoration as it housed one of the most notorious Bourbon jails. After a devastating flood in 1853, Pescara was liberated by [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]'s collaborator [[Clemente De Caesaris]] in 1860. Seven years later the fortress was dismantled.

In the sixty following years Pescara was included in the Province of [[Chieti]] and then merged with the adjacent town of Castellammare Adriatico and eventually became the largest city of its region. The new city suffered heavy civilian casualties when it was [[Bombing of Pescara in World War II|bombed by the Allies]] who were attempting to cut German supply lines during [[World War II]]. It has since been massively rebuilt, becoming a very modern coastal city of Italy.

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1861|9449|1871|11566|1881|12561|1901|16165|1911|21564|1921|26073|1931|37966|1936|45445|1951|65466|1961|87436|1971|122470|1981|131330|1991|122236|2001|116286|2011|117166|2021|118992|footnote=Source: [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|ISTAT]]|cols=2|align=none}}

==Government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Pescara}}

== Main sights ==
[[File:Pescara 2007 -Casa natale di Gabriele D'Annunzio- by-RaBoe 02.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gabriele D'Annunzio's birthplace house]]
[[File:Pescara - Duomo di San Cetteo.jpg|thumb|[[Pescara Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Aurum (Pescara) 07.jpg|alt=|thumb|''Aurum'', built in 1910 in Art Nouveau style]]
The city is divided in two by the river in between.

The historic city center is located on the south shore, where once stood the Piazzaforte (fortified town), a military bulwark of the [[Kingdom of the Two Sicilies]]. There is the Bagno Borbonico (the old prison of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, built starting in 1510 by order of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], which incorporated inside the remains of the [[Normans|Norman]] and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] city walls). Today it houses the [[Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo|Museum of the Abruzzi people]]:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gentidabruzzo.it/ |title=Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo: index<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-09-02 |archive-date=2007-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907211427/http://www.gentidabruzzo.it/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the institution traces, through 13 halls dedicated to aspects of life, traditions and economy, 4,000 years of history of the [[Abruzzo]] people.

In the historic city center are the birthplace houses of [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/abruzzo/pescara.html#box_2|title=Pescara|publisher=Italia:The Official Tourism Website|access-date=26 January 2013|archive-date=30 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730225125/http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/abruzzo/pescara.html#box_2|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Ennio Flaiano]], and the [[Pescara Cathedral|San Cetteo Cathedral]], built between 1933 and 1938.

On the north shore of the river there's Piazza Italia (Italy Square), overlooked by the City Hall and the Government Building (which houses the headquarters of the [[Province of Pescara]]), both built during the Fascist era according to the [[Fascist architecture|fascist rationalist style]] and designed by the architect Vincenzo Pilotti. Pilotti designed the majority of the public buildings of the city, including the seat of the local [[Chamber of commerce|Chamber of Commerce]], of the [[Liceo classico|Liceo Classico]] "G. D'Annunzio" high school,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Storia del Liceo|url = http://www.liceoclassicope.gov.it/2012-12-27-11-21-39/presentazione-del-liceo.html|website = www.liceoclassicope.gov.it|access-date = 2016-02-14|archive-date = 2015-05-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150515033004/http://www.liceoclassicope.gov.it/2012-12-27-11-21-39/presentazione-del-liceo.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> and the old seat of the [[court]] (which now houses a museum).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mediamuseum|url = http://www.mediamuseum.it/index.php/it/|website = www.mediamuseum.it|access-date = 2016-02-14|archive-date = 27 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160127221240/http://www.mediamuseum.it/index.php/it/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In the far southern part of the city, between the [[Nature Reserve Pineta Dannunziana]] and the beach, there is an elegant [[Art Nouveau]] villas district designed in 1912 by Antonino Liberi (an engineer brother-in-law of D'Annunzio). There is also the Aurum, first headquarters of a social club (called the Kursaal), then liquor factory, and today public multipurpose space.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Storia del rione pineta dannunziana: Il Kursaal – AURUM – La nostra Storia Pescara – Abruzzo24ore.tv|url = http://www.abruzzo24ore.tv/news/Storia-del-rione-pineta-dannunziana-Il-Kursaal-AURUM/124756.htm|website = www.abruzzo24ore.tv|date = 4 September 2013|access-date = 2016-02-14|archive-date = 6 February 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170206164112/http://www.abruzzo24ore.tv/news/Storia-del-rione-pineta-dannunziana-Il-Kursaal-AURUM/124756.htm|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Storia – Portfolio Categories – Aurum|url = http://aurum.comune.pescara.it/portfolio/category/storia/?style=fluid|website = aurum.comune.pescara.it|access-date = 2016-02-14|archive-date = 15 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160215223832/http://aurum.comune.pescara.it/portfolio/category/storia/?style=fluid|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2007 was built the Ponte del Mare, the largest pedestrian and cycle bridge in Italy.

On the northern waterfront, close to the ''Salotto Square'', the main square of the city, there is the ''Nave'' (trad. the ship), a sculpture by [[Pietro Cascella]].

== Economy ==

[[File:Pescara Piazza Salotto000P.jpg|thumb|''Piazza Salotto'', Pescara main square]]
Pescara is the most populous city in the [[Abruzzo]] region, and is one of the top ten economic, commercial, and tourist centers on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] coast. Featuring a shoreline that extends for more than {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}}, Pescara is a popular seaside resort on the Adriatic coast during summer. Situated in the sea at a short distance from the waterline there are many breakwaters made with large rocks, that were placed to preserve the shore from water-flood erosion.

In the city there are the administrative headquarters of [[De Cecco]] company and the Fater S.p.a., an equal joint venture partner with the Angelini Group and Procter & Gamble.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Vision {{!}} Fater S.p.A|url = http://www.fatergroup.com/uk/we#who-we-are|website = www.fatergroup.com|access-date = 2016-02-14|archive-date = 5 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160205072545/http://fatergroup.com/uk/we#who-we-are|url-status = live}}</ref>

== Culture ==

Every July Pescara holds an international jazz festival: [[Pescara Jazz]] was the first Italian summer festival dedicated to [[jazz]] music. Since 1969, it has been one of the most important jazz festivals in [[Europe]], as reported by the main dedicated international magazines.

Every year (between June and July) the city also holds the [[Flaiano Prizes]], one of Italy's International Film Festivals.

Pescara was the birthplace of [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]] and [[Ennio Flaiano]]. [[Vittoria Colonna]] was the marchioness of Pescara.

==University==
Pescara and [[Chieti]] are the homes of the [[D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara|G. d'Annunzio University]]. Pescara is home to the Departments of Architecture, Economics, Business Administration, Quantitative Economics, Social and Legal Sciences, Modern Languages Literatures and Cultures, as Chieti, together with the Rector and Academic Senate, is home to the Departments of Medicine and Science of Aging, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Neuroscience and Imaging, Oral Health Sciences and Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Humanities Psychological Sciences, Engineering and Geology, for a total of about 31,257 students in the 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722035216/http://www.ilcorrieredabruzzo.it/chieti/cronaca/9561-universita-dannunzio-in-dieci-anni-iscritti-aumentati-del-424-i-tagli-la-nota-dolente.html].

Since 2009, [[Rome]] [[Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche|ISIA]] has a subsidiary in Pescara, training students in the field of [[industrial design]].

In the city center is located the headquarters of [[ICRANet]], the International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics Network, an [[international organization]] promoting research activities in relativistic astrophysics and related areas.

== Sports ==

The city has a football team, [[Delfino Pescara 1936]], which in June 2012 was promoted to [[Serie A]], the highest league in [[Football in Italy|Italy]]. Pescara Calcio, who have played 38 seasons in the cadet championship, have spent 7 previous seasons in Serie A, especially in the 1980s–90s.

Between 1924 and 1961, Pescara hosted the [[Coppa Acerbo]] automobile race, which in 1957 formed the penultimate round of the [[Formula One|World Championship of Drivers]]. With a length of almost 26&nbsp;km the [[Pescara Circuit]] was the longest circuit to ever host a Formula One [[List of Formula One Grands Prix|Grand Prix]].

Pescara hosted the [[2009 Mediterranean Games]], having defeated [[Rijeka]], [[Croatia]] and [[Patras]], [[Greece]] for the privilege. In 2015, from 28 August to 6 September, the [[2015 Mediterranean Beach Games|first edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games]] was held in the city in 2015.

Since 2011 the Italian edition of the [[Ironman 70.3]] takes place in the city of Pescara, chosen for the characteristics of the territory, for the possibility of building a competition that starts from the sea, continue towards the mountains and ends in the city center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/italy.aspx#axzz3yomXVHXb |title=IRONMAN 70.3 Italy<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2016-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080227/http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/italy.aspx#axzz3yomXVHXb |archive-date=2018-02-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Transport ==
[[File:Pescara Ponte del Mare 2013-12 by-RaBoe 24.jpg|alt=|thumb|''Ponte del Mare'', "Bridge of the sea"]]
As regards public transport Pescara has a wide assortment of services, the city benefits from it a very favourable position with regard to roads.

===Motorways===
The territory between Pescara and Chieti is crossed by two pan-European roads, [[autostrada A14 (Italy)]] [[Bologna]] – [[Taranto]], and [[autostrada A25 (Italy)]] [[Torano di Borgorose|Torano]] – Pescara, connected with the local bypass road system.

===Airport===
[[File:Wikimania 2014 Flug Pescara-London by-RaBoe 027.jpg|thumb|The marina at the mouth of the river]]

Pescara is served from an international airport called [[Abruzzo Airport]] (Aeroporto di Pescara) that connects the entire region with many Italian and European destinations like Barcelona-Girona, Brussels-Charleroi, Frankfurt-Hahn, Kraków, London-Stansted,Turin, [[Weeze Airport|Weeze]], Milan Malpensa, Tirana, Bucarest, Palermo, Catania.
[[File:Stazione di Pescara 01.jpg|thumb|Pescara railway station]]

===Port===
Pescara is served by the [[Port of Pescara]] for fishing, yachting, cargo docking and commercial passenger services. In the past, during summer season, ferries and hydrofoils to [[Croatia]] run primarily by [[SNAV]] used to connect the city to [[Split, Croatia|Split]] and islands in central [[Dalmatia]] but the service has been temporarily suspended.

===Rail===
The city has four [[Train station|railway stations]], [[Pescara Centrale railway station]] is the main and largest in Abruzzo, as well as one of the larger railway stations without train terminal in Italy, connecting with some of the major Italian cities like [[Rome]], [[Milan]], [[Turin]], [[Bologna]], [[Bari]], [[Ancona]], [[Trieste]] and many other cities. The other stations are Pescara Porta Nuova, Pescara Tribunale and Pescara San Marco.

===Bus===
Pescara is served from several bus lines (operated by TUA, Società unica abruzzese di trasporto). There is a direct bus line to [[Roma Tiburtina railway station|Roma Tiburtina]] (Rome) via Pescara Centrale (about a two and a half hour ride).

===Trolleybus===
A [[Trolleybuses in Pescara|new trolleybus system]] opened for service in September 2025.<ref name="trolleybus-reality">{{cite news |last1=Del Vecchio |first1=Sara |title=Il filobus è realtà, da oggi corse ogni dieci minuti tra Pescara e Montesilvano |url=https://www.ilcentro.it/pescara/il-filobus-e-realta-da-oggi-corse-ogni-dieci-minuti-tra-pescara-e-montesilvano-xphterdh |access-date=2025-10-23 |work=[[Il Centro]] |date=11 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915060251/https://www.ilcentro.it/pescara/il-filobus-e-realta-da-oggi-corse-ogni-dieci-minuti-tra-pescara-e-montesilvano-xphterdh |archive-date=15 September 2025 |language=it |url-status=live |trans-title=The trolleybus is a reality; from today it runs every ten minutes between Pescara and Montesilvano}}</ref> The system is named ''La Verde'' (the Green One) and its initial, {{convert|8|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} route connects the city centre, including the [[Pescara Centrale railway station]], with the suburb of [[Montesilvano]].<ref name="trolleybus-reality"/><ref name=tm368>''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 368 (March–April 2023), p. 74. National Trolleybus Association (UK). {{issn|0266-7452}}.</ref> New [[Van Hool]] trolleybuses for use on the route have been delivered.<ref name=tm367>''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 367 (January–February 2023), p. 33. National Trolleybus Association (UK). {{issn|0266-7452}}.</ref> A future extension to the [[Abruzzo Airport|Abruzzo International Airport]] and Parcheggio Sud has been proposed.<ref name=tm348>''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 325 (January–February 2016), p. 24. National Trolleybus Association (UK).</ref>

== People ==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> 
* [[Federico Caffè]] (1914–1987), economist
* [[Andrea Caldarelli]] (born 1990), racing driver
* [[Giada Colagrande]] (born 1975), actress and film director
* [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]] (1863–1938), poet, novelist and politician
* [[Ildebrando D'Arcangelo]] (born 1969), opera singer
* [[Giovanni De Benedictis]] (born 1968), retired race walker
* [[Eusebio Di Francesco]] (born 1969), Football Manager
* [[Ennio Flaiano]] (1910–1972), screenwriter, novelist and journalist
* [[Simone Iacone]] (born 1984), racing driver
* [[Francesco Panzieri]] (born 1985), visual effects artist
* [[Stefano Pessina]] (born 1941), business man and Executive Chairman of [[Alliance Boots]]
* [[Stefano Prizio]] (born 1988), footballer
* [[Sara Serraiocco]] (born 1990), actress
* [[Floria Sigismondi]] (born 1965), Canadian photographer and director
* [[Enzo Trulli]] (born 2005), racing driver, son of Jarno Trulli
* [[Jarno Trulli]] (born 1974), former Formula One driver
* [[Francesco Di Fulvio]] (born 1993), Italian water polo player
* [[Marco Verratti]] (born 1992), Italian footballer
* [[Alessandro Di Renzo]] (born 2000), Italian footballer

==Twin towns==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}
Pescara is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Arcachon]], France
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Miami Beach]], U.S.
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Lima]], Peru
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Split (city)|Split]], Croatia
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Brescia]], Italy
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Casale Monferrato]], Italy

== See also ==
{{Portal|Italy|European Union|Cities}}
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pescara-Penne]]
* [[Museo d'Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna]]
* [[Birthplace of Gabriele D'Annunzio Museum]]
* [[Museo Paparella Treccia Devlet]]
* [[Pescara Town Hall]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.comune.pescara.it/ Official website]
* [http://www.abruzzo-airport.it Pescara Airport]
* [http://www.unipe.it Università D'Annunzio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919080857/http://www.unipe.it/ |date=2003-09-19 }}

{{Abruzzo}}
{{Province of Pescara}}
{{Mediterranean Games}}
{{Cities in Italy}}
{{subject bar|commons=y|voy=y|portal2=Italy|portal3=European Union}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pescara| ]]
[[Category:Coastal towns in Abruzzo]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Italy]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Adriatic Sea]]