The best sandy beach in Ortona, many choices of bars where you can rent a spot for one day or for the whole season with a reservation in advance. The beach is very clean with golden sand and the water is cristal clear for most of the season. You can find many cheap b&b and few hotels in the area. If you are staying in this area you cannot skip a visit to the natural reserve of Ripari di Giobbe. You'll be amazed!

This beach is amazing and the water is very clean and clear🤍

The whole place is beautiful, but the beach is very annoying with the vendors selling and very disruptive.

Beautiful beach, shalow water, fine golden sand.

Very good

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This was a fun stop to check out, there is a lot to walk around and see here. There is a decent amount of steps, and limited parking. But beautiful views! The front door was locked, the back door was open and we walked through there up the steps!

A beautiful castle best seen at dusk

We were pleasantly surprised to find out the gate is wide open and it’s free to visit. Came here around 4 in the afternoon on a Sunday and we were the only ones there. The castle is well maintained, lights up at night and has amazing views from every direction. A must see if you’re in Ortona!

Amazing part of Italy. Full of amazing restaurants and Italians holiday hotspot. Oh a nice bit of history in the Castle and surrounding old town.

The castle is an open space you can walk through. No admission. The photos tell the story.

The Aragon Castle (Castello Aragonese in Italian) was built in the 14th century in Ortona, province of Chieti in Abruzzo region. It has a trapezoidal shape and 3 cylindrical towers. You can park a few meters away from it and visit it.

It's a small but nice site. Only takes 10-15mins to see around. The views are lovely.

Beautiful location, very interesting exhibit.

The Basilica of St. Thomas the Apostle in Ortona, Italy, is a sacred and historical treasure that preserves the relics of St. Thomas the Apostle. This basilica not only serves as a center of devotion but also as a monument to the apostle’s enduring legacy through its remarkable art and architecture. After his martyrdom in India, St. Thomas was buried in Mylapore, in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. His remains were later transferred to Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey), a significant early center of Christianity. Finally, on 6 September 1258, the relics arrived in Ortona, brought by Ortonese sailors. This momentous event is commemorated as a major milestone in the basilica’s history. Today, the relics of St. Thomas are made accessible to the faithful on three significant occasions each year: July 3 – the Feast of the Dukrana, commemorating the martyrdom of St. Thomas, September 6 – marking the anniversary of the relics' arrival in Ortona, The first Sunday of May – a local day of pilgrimage and veneration. Within the dome of the basilica are seven bas-relief panels dating to 1572, depicting scenes from the life of St. Thomas, along with stucco high-reliefs of the Four Evangelists, from an earlier period. These artworks were carefully restored in 1830 by Fulgenzio Lavalle, a native of Ortona. The main altar holds a case with bronze doors created in 1958 by the Ortona sculptor Stefano Durante, which protects the silver Bust of St. Thomas—crafted by the Pani Foundry of Naples in 1800. The paintings by Tommaso Cascella (1968) add depth to the spiritual narrative: behind the altar is The Incredulity of St. Thomas, and to the right, The Martyrdom of the Apostle. In the antechapel, ceramic panels depict key moments in Ortona’s history with the saint’s relics: The Departure of the Ortona Galleys from Chios (11 August 1258) and The Arrival in Ortona (6 September 1258). The vault frescoes, also by Cascella, portray scenes from the Old and New Testaments, along with representations of the Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. A stained glass window illustrates Jesus revealing to Saint Bridget that the relics of St. Thomas are in Ortona, further affirming the basilica’s divine connection. Completing the artistic ensemble, a painting on the left wall by Pasquale Bellonio (1762) represents The Crucifixion, enriching the basilica’s message of faith, martyrdom, and hope. The Basilica of St. Thomas in Ortona stands today not only as a beacon of devotion but also as a vivid witness to the journey and enduring witness of the Apostle who brought the Gospel to India and whose remains found a lasting home in Ortona.

The Relics of St Thomas the apostle of India are kept here, brought from Mylapore to Edessa to Greek island Chios. In 1358 the relics were brought to the local church in Ortona, which was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1859. There the relics of the Apostle St. Thomas, along with the looted tombstone, were displayed in a crypt, and remain to this day.

Visited Cathedral of San Tomasso Apostolo Ortona with our LOAF Families Group as Pilgrims of Hope in the Jubilee Year! Felt proud as a SyroMalabar Catholic and St. Thomas Christian from Kerala India, to seee the relics of our Father in Faith, Mar Thoma Sleeha! Praise the Lord!

St. Thomas's body, originally interred in Mylapore, India, was eventually moved to Ortona, Italy. Around 230 AD, his remains were taken to Edessa. Later, they were relocated to Chios for safekeeping, and in 1258, were stolen by sailors from Ortona during a military expedition. The relics arrived in Ortona on September 6, 1258, and were later confirmed as authentic through a document in Bari in 1259. Here's a more detailed timeline: 72 AD: St. Thomas is martyred in Mylapore, India. Around 230 AD: His body is moved to Edessa. 1144-1146: The body is moved to Chios due to the fall of Edessa under Turkish rule. August 10, 1258: The body is stolen from Chios by sailors from Ortona. September 6, 1258: The relics arrive in Ortona. September 22, 1259: A notarial act is issued in Bari, confirming the authenticity of the relics through statements from Greeks from Chios who were held in prison there.

What an amazing and beautiful church.

Beautiful cathedral dedicated to St. Thomas the apostle. My wife and I were married there in 2010 so lot's of good memories. There are also some relics of the Saint on display in an area directly below the alter. The original building was badly damaged during WW2 and the entire frontage was rebuilt in a modern style.

Great place to visit with a very nice stone beach and nice water to swim in. If you have kids it is best to be close to the front of the building and larger area. Be a aware of the steps Down to the beach if you do not go through the camping site. There is also parking just above these stairs.

Beautiful beach! On 10/06/2024 the access hiking path from the public parking was blocked due to bad conditions and need for reconstruction. The only way to access the beach was to drive down through the nearby camping village but this came at a price of 5€. This was not bad in itself but seems a pity that the only way to access a public beach is to pay a private business owner for nothing.

Beautiful pebble beach. You will have to go down some stairs to get to it but well worth the effort. The water is clear and the beach was clean (October). The sea is not suitable for non swimmers - the water quickly gets to chest depth. Out of season no facilities available, do take your picnic with you !

Great beach,big wawes and lots of fun. Good foid at the buffet restaurant also.

Pebble beach clear waters came down the new stairs but further along to the right is the old steps much nicer and a bit easier to use also shaded by trees, nice place

Very nice public shingle beach but restricted access via the road for private camping members only! Even though the road is also apparently a public road!!! You can use the restaurant and bar, and access to the swimming pool is 25 euros pp per day. You can also hire an umbrella and two sun beds for 25 euros per day. Free car park at the top of the hill but it's a long haul down the steps and back up again afterwards. Beautiful water.

I had an adventure that scared my mom here haha 🫸🫷😺😺

Hard to rate, lighthouse not open, very little to see, walk around to pebble beach or bike

Best scenic view in Abruzzo

Can't access the lighthouse and the view is obstructed by construction.

Best Lunch we have had as we eat our way through Italy.Everything was delicious,very reasonable prices, they will make you feel like family.Don’t miss this

If you wish for a casalinga cuisine in heart of Abruzzo, with rustic friendly hospitality , this is the place . We tasted all antipasto which all were amazing and fresh made by the mother (tomatoes were from their garden and they make olive oil and homemade bread too ) pasta so good and big size in tomato sauce . a delicious homemade crostata of peach as desert. All companies by half liter of Rose wine made us so full and happy. This huge lunch for two just cost us 35€ with discount of the nice host. 17€ each . I would return to this place in November and winter for sure to taste their fresh fish plates as well.

We had a great lunch! The people were very nice and the food is fantastic! We returned at Pasqua!! We would absolutely recommend this place!

Went there a week ago. I’m still travelling through Italy and this was by far the best dining experience so far. My wife directed us there for lunch as we drove down the coast. It was a Saturday lunch and there were quite a lot of people there, all Italian except us. The owner was very entertaining and accommodating right from the start. Our Italian is very limited, but I think he said something like “You don’t need to order from a menu, I will look after you”. I would normally have loved that, but I had to tell him I am lactose intolerant. He then pulled up a chair to our table, and through hand signals and a few common words he explained what we would eat (and that it had no dairy). We were then treated to the best restaurant experience of our trip. There aren’t many places that make you feel so welcome. He is absolutely hilarious too - very loud and animated. Would highly recommend.

Very authentic Italian experience! The host is an entertainer - the mother as the cook makes amazing food! Not your everyday restaurant - but can totally recommend!

Gianluca had a great welcoming personality!! His mom is a fantastic cook! Everything was fresh, homemade & delectable!!! Would return! The chicken & lamb was outstanding!!

What a great place to have delicious homemade food. The owners are very hospitable and kind - a rare find in big Italian cities. We thank them for the unexpectedly great culinary experience we had at la taverna dei pini.

We stumbled across this restaurant and what a find! All of us really enjoyed the food and it is a fish-lovers delight. One of our group is what intolerant and they were so helpful with choosing the dishes. Loved the brodetto and spaghetti that used the sauce afterwards. The pastry made to a secret recipe by their uncle were delicious and the limoncello, cafe crema and lemon sorbet completed a truly memorable meal.

Fantastic selection of wine from local wineries and superb sea food. The atmosphere is great too as it's right next to the fortifications and old city center. This is true Italy. There was a party inside the restaurant and I was served home made cake and home made nocini (walnut liquor) . What a truly great experience.

Fabulous seafood restaurant next to the castle of Ortona. The service was very good and attentive. Very tasty was the octopus and the flat spaghetti with shrimps. Good selection of local wines.

Great seafood! Amazing service, the star of the show here is the fish, they cook to perfection. The starters are really good and the price includes coffee and some sweets. The sweets were our least favorite, but the rest is good! The grilled mix was superb!

Well executed food with very fresh, good ingredients. Disaster service management leaving one single Italian-speaking only waiter to deal with multiple simultaneous tables on a Friday night. Cannot develop too much about the attitude of the waiter, because it would most probably be pointless, since he ended up being the only server on a Friday night. Last but not least, we were asked about complimentary digestives in simple English, to which we replied yes.. 8 euros extra on the bill, thus not complimentary. They would say miscommunication, I would say complete nerve. The ambiance and the decor were lovely.

Excellent food, excellent service, wonderful company!

Absolutely Fabulous food! Handwritten menu of the day's offerings. Seafood featured. Simple but elegant dishes that taste great and are reasonably priced.

Cute little italian place in Ortona near the city center! Food was really good and we ordered a lot as you can see! Check out that mad octopus!! Also we fell i love with the strawberry tiramisu!

I ordered the classic "Il Classico", which is only the fancy name for pasta with seafood. The seafood was half edible, a mix of shellfish, mussels, one shrimp and one small lobster with barely any meat. To much work for little substance. A very small crab came along in the dish, was not sure exactly what to do with that.

Located just as you enter town outside the castle gates, so it catches people who arrive at lunch time, which is why we ended up eating here. Take my advice, give it a pass and head into town. There are so many better options available.

The food was delicious and the personal very kindly.

Really quiet place, few tables, exceptional fish foods. The raw antipast is something to try. Not expensive, really appreciated.

The best fish and seafood place on the way south to north travel of Italy. Bravo!

Great local fish with baked potatoes and olives. Good dessert

Cozy restaurant. Friendly staff. Delicious food. The menu is not huge, but totally sufficient. It distingushes between fish and meat dishes.

A delicious lunch accented by a tremendous downpour.

Small but nice place, excellent fish dishes, good quality local wine list, tasty homemade desserts, average service,avrage price; recommended

We arrived later in the evening, the staff were very accommodating. The food was great.

Very great food, too price, friendly

My first sit down dinner in Italy. Set a high bar for my food experience here.

Very good kitchen and comfortable place

It was a gorgeous experience to be here. The food was perfect and the wine bottle delicious, the service excellently good and atmosphere perfect. And on top the price was absolutely adequate We can highly recommend this restaurant

Originally went to get a takeaway pizza but the place and people were so friendly and welcoming that we stayed sat at a table and enjoyed the lovely interior and atmosphere, service and food was good too ,highly recommended

Hidden gem, in a small village off the beaten track. It serves traditional local food. The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious. Even though it looks small, it has plenty of seating and even an outside terrace.

Excellent restaurant, which offers 2 courses of dishes- either meat or fish. Both are amazing but the fish probably takes it! Always busy so book in advance.

The best gluten-free pizza I've ever had with outstanding service. My friends loved the non-gluten-free pizza's as well!

Excelent Italian food and also the specialities from Abruzzo

A stunning place in the beautiful countryside of Ortona, superb pizzas and terrific traditional recipes of the territory. Highly recommended.