Abruzzo · Chieti
Ortona
A working Adriatic port under an Aragonese castle, where the cathedral holds relics venerated as those of the apostle Thomas and the ridge above the harbour was fought over street by street in December 1943.
- Best time
- May–Sep
- By car
- 33 min from Pescara
- By train
- Station in the comune
- Population
- 22,209
Known for
THE PORT
One of the working fishing and commercial harbours of the Abruzzo coast, not a marina built for visitors.
THE 1943 BATTLE
Eight days of street fighting in December 1943 between Canadian and German forces. The Moro River Canadian War Cemetery lies just outside the town.
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
The hills behind the town are planted with the region's red grape, and the Colline Teatine sit immediately inland.
When to visit
Best · May–Sep
- J11°
- F13°
- M14°
- A16°
- M21°
- J26°
- J30°
- A30°
- S25°
- O21°
- N16°
- D13°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. The sea is warmest in August at 29° and coldest in February at 12°. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Tommaso apostolo, primo sabato e domenica di maggio (Festa del Perdono)
Why come
Ortona is the largest town on the Costa dei Trabocchi and the least postcard-like. It has a real harbour with real boats in it, a castle on the cliff edge that the sea is slowly taking back, and a cathedral that has drawn pilgrims since 1258, when the relics were carried here from Chios. It is also a war town.
Over eight days at the end of 1943 Canadian and German troops fought through these streets house by house, and the town that stands now was largely rebuilt afterwards. The Moro River cemetery on the edge of town is where most visitors end up going quiet.
The Sunday letter
Ortona is on our list. Its letter is still to come.
We are writing about all 1,000 of these towns, one at a time, in a free letter every Sunday: the photo, the food, the festa. That is our mission. Sign up and you will be there when Ortona comes up. By Peter & Sophia, from Pietrasanta.
Read on
Ortona in our articles
The 8 best wine towns you can reach by train within 90 minutes of Pescara8 towns, Ortona among them.
The best coastal towns that eat well within 90 minutes of Pescara8 towns, Ortona among them.
The best beach towns in Abruzzo10 towns, Ortona among them.
The best coastal towns in Abruzzo10 towns, Ortona among them.
How to get there
From Ancona / Pescara (AOI), about 2h 9m by car.
Bari / Brindisi (BRI) is about 3 hours away.
By car from the centre of Pescara 33 minutes, Ancona 2 hours or Rome 2h 29m.
There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive without a car.
Coming from Rome?
Coming by train into Pescara Centrale? Ortona is about 35 minutes away by road.
What to see
Castello Aragonese
The fifteenth-century castle on the cliff above the port, open to walk around. Coastal erosion has taken part of it, which is visible from the seaward side.
Basilica di San Tommaso Apostolo
The cathedral holding relics venerated as those of the apostle Thomas, brought from the island of Chios in 1258.
Passeggiata Orientale
The belvedere walk along the cliff edge, looking north up the coast toward Pescara.
Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi
The coastal cycle path built on the old Adriatic railway line, which runs through the town.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Ortona fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
We recommend
Where to eat
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Gli Ostinati - Trabocco Mucchiola RestaurantRistorante
Gli Ostinati - Trabocco Mucchiola Restaurant has two Gambero Rosso forks (80/100) to its name.
TapanìRistorante
Tapanì carries one Gambero Rosso fork (76/100).
Through the year
What happens here
Feasts and festivals that come back year after year. We give the month rather than the date, because the date moves and the month rarely does. Check with the source before you plan a journey around one.
Sagra della Triglia e del Pesce Frittofood festival
usually held in August. AbruzzoNews - Sagre in Abruzzo
Living here
- Population 22,209
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Ancona / Pescara, 2 h 9 min drive
- Regional capital L'Aquila, 1 h 46 min drive
Common questions
- What is Ortona known for?
- Ortona is a working Adriatic port under an Aragonese castle, where the cathedral holds relics venerated as those of the apostle Thomas and the ridge above the harbour was fought over street by street in December 1943.
- Where is Ortona?
- Ortona is a comune in the province of Chieti, in Abruzzo, at 72 meters above sea level.
- What is the nearest airport to Ortona?
- Ancona / Pescara (AOI), about 2h 9m by car.
- Can you get to Ortona without a car?
- Yes. There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive by train.
- How long is the drive from Pescara to Ortona?
- About 33 minutes by car.
- When is the best time to visit Ortona?
- Best in May–Sep. July is the warmest month, averaging 30 degrees, and November the wettest, with about 12 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Ortona?
- Yes. Sagra della Triglia e del Pesce Fritto. August is when the first of them falls.
- Which other towns are like Ortona?
- Giulianova, Roseto degli Abruzzi and Pineto.
- How many people live in Ortona?
- 22,209 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 72 m
- Population: 22,209
- Surface area: 70.88 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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