Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi: the complete guide to Italy's most beautiful cycling route
42 km from Ortona to Vasto along the former 1863 Adriatic railway: the route, stops, bike rental, and how to get there by train
There is only one way to truly understand the Costa dei Trabocchi: cycling through it. Forty-two kilometers of virtually flat cycling path, built on the route of the old Adriatic railway inaugurated in 1863, running with the sea on your left and the cliffs on your right, passing through three illuminated tunnels, crossing three rivers, gliding past sixteen trabocchi, and ending inside a nature reserve. It is called the Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi: one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Italy, and one of the most surprising in Europe.
From Ortona to Vasto Marina, through seven municipalities in the province of Chieti, the Via Verde is today one of the most established tourist attractions along the Abruzzo coast. The 2023 Giro d'Italia brought it international fame with its opening stage, covering 18 kilometers of this cycling path. Since then, the flow of Italian and international cycling tourists — especially Germans, Dutch, and French — has quadrupled. Yet this is still a route in evolution: some sections are being completed, disused stations are becoming cycling hubs, and the network of services (rentals, refreshment stops, train+bike connections) is expanding year after year.
In this guide, we take you along the entire Via Verde: the route kilometer by kilometer, what to see along the way, how to arrive by train and where to rent a bike, when to go, how much it costs, and how to plan your ride — from a half-day outing to a full week.
What is the Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi
The Via Verde is a cycling and walking path of approximately 42 kilometers, built on the disused route of the old Adriatic railway inaugurated in 1863, which remained in operation until 2005 when Ferrovie dello Stato replaced it with a new inland route. The Province of Chieti acquired the former railway corridor and launched a conversion project into a cycling and walking path, which reached fruition over the following decade.
The official route starts at the Porto di Ortona and ends at Vasto Marina, passing through 7 municipalities: Ortona, San Vito Chietino, Rocca San Giovanni, Fossacesia, Torino di Sangro, Casalbordino, and Vasto. It is virtually flat throughout its entire length (it was a railway, after all — that was a structural necessity), paved, wide, marked with green horizontal signage, and clearly separated from ordinary road traffic.
The northern section (Francavilla al Mare–Ortona) is still in planning, while the southern section (Vasto Marina–San Salvo Marina) is being completed. The Via Verde is part of the broader Bike to Coast project, which aims to connect all of Abruzzo's coastal municipalities in a single cycling itinerary from Martinsicuro to San Salvo, and of the national Ciclovia Adriatica project — over 1,700 kilometers from Trieste to Leuca.
The ultimate aspiration is UNESCO recognition for the Costa dei Trabocchi: a dossier is currently being prepared by the Regione Abruzzo, the Province of Chieti, and the GAL Costa dei Trabocchi.
The route from north to south, stop by stop
Stop 1 — Porto di Ortona and the three tunnels
The Via Verde officially begins at the Porto di Ortona, next to the Aragonese castle. The first stretch is one of the most scenic on the entire route: you pass through three illuminated tunnels, a legacy of the old railway, emerging each time to views of the harbor and the Saracen beach. The Galleria Acquabella, in particular, opens directly onto sheer cliffs dropping into the sea.
Just beyond the harbor, the path runs alongside the pebbly beaches of Acquabella, Ripari Bardella, and Mucchiola. This is where you encounter the first trabocco of the journey: the Trabocco Mucchiola (now a restaurant called "Gli Ostinati"), a structure with nearly three centuries of documented history.
Stop 2 — The Moro River mouth and the legacy of the Gustav Line
Continuing south, the path crosses the mouth of the Moro River, a place heavy with historical significance: in December 1943, the Battle of the Moro was fought here — one of the bloodiest engagements of World War II in Italy, part of the effort to break through the Gustav Line. Canadian, Polish, and Indian troops battled German soldiers for control of the crossing. Today the area is a well-known surf spot, but it is worth pausing to read one of the information panels: the contrast between the quiet seafront of today and what happened here eighty years ago is one of the most powerful impressions the Via Verde leaves behind.
Stop 3 — The Promontorio Dannunziano and San Vito Chietino
Further south, the path skirts the Promontorio Dannunziano, offering one of the finest views along the entire coast, with the medieval borgo of San Vito Chietino (122 meters above sea level) rising dramatically on the hillside. It was here, in the summer of 1889, that Gabriele d'Annunzio stayed at the Eremo delle Portelle (now known as the Eremo Dannunziano) with his lover Barbara Leoni, drawing inspiration for his novel Il trionfo della morte (1894). The remains of Barbara Leoni, transferred from Rome's Verano cemetery, rest on this promontory.
Along the San Vito Marina stretch you will find the Trabocchi San Giacomo and Punta Scirocco, both now active as restaurants, and the celebrated Trabocco Turchino — the only publicly owned trabocco (belonging to the Municipality of San Vito Chietino), described by d'Annunzio as a "colossal spider." A mandatory stop for anyone interested in the literary origins of this coast.
Stop 4 — Vallevò, Rocca San Giovanni, and the Documentation Center
In the hamlet of Vallevò, a fraction of Rocca San Giovanni, you will find the Documentation Center on the Costa dei Trabocchi, managed by the Municipality, featuring historical, audiovisual, and educational material on the lives of the traboccanti and the evolution of traditional fishing. Also here is the Trabocco Punta Tufano, with guided visits and fishing demonstrations by reservation. This is one of the quietest and least-visited stretches of the Via Verde — perfect for a peaceful break.
Stop 5 — The Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere and Fossacesia
A hillside detour of about 5 kilometers (on road, with a climb) brings you to the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere at Fossacesia, one of the most important Romanesque abbeys in Abruzzo, built in the 12th century by Abbot Oderisio on top of a former temple dedicated to Venus. The panoramic view over the gulf is spectacular. From the Via Verde, the round trip takes about an hour including the climb — well worth it, especially at sunset.
Returning to the path, you cross Fossacesia Marina and then the bridge over the mouth of the Sangro River: the most significant river in the province of Chieti and a clear territorial boundary.
Stop 6 — Cala Le Morge, Torino di Sangro, and the interrupted section
Between Lido Dragoni (Fossacesia) and Cala Le Morge (Torino di Sangro), the cycling path is currently interrupted for approximately 2 kilometers: you need to ride a short section of the SS16 Adriatica, with care for traffic. Work to close this gap is underway. Once the path resumes at Cala Le Morge, you reach the Trabocco Punta Le Morge — the second publicly owned trabocco on the coast, managed by the Municipality of Torino di Sangro through a local association — and then Lido Le Morge, with beach clubs and refreshment points. Heading up toward the hilltop borgo of Torino di Sangro, you will find the British War Cemetery from World War II, a living memory of the Battle of the Sangro.
Stop 7 — Casalbordino, the Punta Aderci Reserve, and Vasto Marina
From Lido Le Morge, the path continues toward Casalbordino Lido, where it temporarily leaves the former railway route to follow the sandy seafront. A few kilometers further on, the cycling path enters the Riserva Naturale Regionale di Punta Aderci: this is the most scenically spectacular stretch of the entire route. A gravel road winds through wheat fields and vineyards, the open sea stretches out before you, the cliffs of Punta Aderci draw closer, and the Faro di Punta Penna (70 meters tall, the second-tallest lighthouse in Italy) stands on the horizon. Here, cycling path and nature reserve merge into a single space for slow travel.
Past the industrial area of Punta Penna (along a low-traffic municipal road for about 1 kilometer), the path resumes at La Canale and continues to Vasto Marina, the official end of the Via Verde. From here, you have access to Vasto Marina's seafront promenade, the Vasto historic center, and the Vasto–San Salvo train station.
How to get to the Via Verde
By train (the recommended option)
The train + bike combination is the smartest way to ride the Via Verde: arrive by train, pick up a rental bike, pedal in one direction, and return by train from your destination station. The Adriatic railway line serves the entire coast with stations just minutes from the path. The main ones:
Pescara Centrale: the main hub, with elevators; regional trains from here connect the whole coast.
Francavilla al Mare: ideal starting point for those who want to begin further north (though the Francavilla–Ortona section requires the SS16).
Ortona: station 5 minutes' walk from the harbor, the official start of the Via Verde.
San Vito–Lanciano: a strategic position, close to the Trabocco Turchino and the Eremo Dannunziano.
Fossacesia–Torino di Sangro: right in the heart of the route.
Casalbordino–Pollutri: a midpoint stop, close to Lido Le Morge.
Porto di Vasto: less than a kilometer from the Punta Aderci Reserve.
Vasto–San Salvo: the practical end of the Via Verde, very close to Vasto Marina.
On the regional Adriatic line, Trenitalia regional trains equipped for bikes allow free bicycle transport (look for the bike pictogram on the train card). During summer months, some services have carriages with up to 64 bike spaces. On Intercity trains, a €3.50 supplement with mandatory reservation applies. There is also a dedicated service called "Trabocchi Line", with around twenty daily runs between Pescara and the Costa dei Trabocchi municipalities — particularly convenient on weekends and during peak season.
By car
From the A14 Adriatica motorway, exit at Ortona (to start from the north), Lanciano–Val di Sangro (for the central section), or Vasto Nord / Vasto Sud (to start from the south). Parking is available at the Porto di Ortona, at the Fossacesia–Torino di Sangro station, at beach clubs along the way, and at Vasto Marina. In peak season, train + bike is far more convenient.
Bike rental: where, what, and how much
A network of Bike Stations at railway stations (the Ciclostazioni dei Trabocchi), promoted by the Chieti-Pescara Chamber of Commerce, GAL Costa dei Trabocchi, Legambiente, and Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, operates at the stations of Francavilla, Ortona, San Vito Chietino, Fossacesia–Torino di Sangro, Casalbordino, Porto di Vasto, and Vasto–San Salvo. Beyond the official Bike Stations, private rental operators (Ciclotrabocchi, Bikelife, Green Road Bike, and many others) are found throughout every town along the route, along with B&Bs and hotels that offer bikes to their guests.
Types and approximate prices:
City bike or trekking bike: €10–15/day. Suitable for the flat route — fine for almost everyone.
Mountain bike: €15–25/day. Useful if you plan detours on gravel or dirt roads (for example, inside the Punta Aderci Reserve).
Pedal-assist e-bike: €25–35/day. Recommended if you want to cover the entire route in a single day, or if you are with family members at different fitness levels.
Tandem or children's bike: available from some operators, on reservation.
Cargo bike / bike with child seat: available from the main operators, for families.
All rentals include a helmet and lock; some operators offer a luggage transfer service between accommodations (very useful for multi-day trips) and GPX tracks with points of interest pre-loaded.
When to go
Spring (April–June)
Probably the best time of year. Ideal cycling temperatures (15–25°C), increasingly long days, Mediterranean scrubland in bloom, and the sea already warm enough for a swim by late May. The April and May public holidays are particularly beautiful. Bear in mind that some trabocco restaurants only open from Easter onward.
Summer (July–August)
The natural seaside season: all trabocco restaurants open, beach clubs in full swing, the chance for a mid-day swim. Avoid the hottest hours (above 30°C): ride at dawn — the morning light on the sea is extraordinary — or in the late afternoon through to sunset. Weekends are busier, but the path is wide and handles the flow well.
Autumn (September–October)
September is one of the most pleasant months: the sea is still warm, temperatures are perfect for cycling, crowds are thinner, and prices are dropping. October brings extraordinary colors and a warm, photogenic light. Some trabocco restaurants close after October 31 — check ahead.
Winter (November–March)
The Via Verde is open year-round, and in winter it offers a completely different experience: a stormy sea, deserted promenades, absolute silence. Layer up. Many trabocco restaurants are closed, but some traditional restaurants along the seafront stay open all year. Ideal for contemplative cyclists and photographers.
How to plan your ride: three options
Half a day (10–15 km)
For those with limited time or limited training: pick a single stretch, for example Ortona–San Vito Chietino (10 km, ~45 minutes at a relaxed pace) or San Vito–Fossacesia (12 km). This is the perfect setup for a trabocco lunch with a there-and-back ride. With the "train + bike" option: take the train to your starting point, cycle to the next station, have lunch, then take the train back.
Full day (30–42 km)
For those who want to ride the whole Via Verde or most of it. Ortona to Vasto Marina in a day requires around 4–5 hours of actual pedaling, not counting stops; with proper breaks (trabocco lunch, a swim, photos), allow a full day from 9 a.m. to 6–7 p.m.. With an e-bike it is much less tiring. Train + bike: arrive at Ortona in the morning, cycle to Vasto–San Salvo, take the train back.
Multiple days (weekend or week)
The best way to experience the Via Verde: pedaling from north to south over 3–5 days, spending each night at a different B&B or agriturismo. A classic four-day itinerary: Ortona (night 1), San Vito Chietino (night 2), Fossacesia (night 3), Vasto Marina (night 4). Many operators offer turnkey packages with bike rental, hotel bookings, and luggage transfer all included.
Who is the Via Verde for?
Families with children
Absolutely, yes. The flat route, the separation from regular road traffic, and the frequent stopping points (beaches, parks, beach clubs) make it ideal for families. With young children (ages 3–7), we recommend a child seat or cargo bike, and short stretches (5–10 km). With older children (8 and up), distances of 15–25 km are perfectly manageable. Watch out for the interrupted SS16 section between Lido Dragoni and Cala Le Morge: avoid it or arrange a transfer.
Experienced cyclists
The Via Verde is "technically easy" but extraordinarily scenic. Even seasoned cyclists from Trentino, Alto Adige, and across Europe rank it in their top 10. For those who want more of a challenge, hillside detours toward Lanciano, Treglio, and Castel Frentano (a future 23 km "comb" cycling route is under construction) and up to the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere (a 5 km climb) can be added.
Walkers, runners, skaters
The smooth, even surface makes the Via Verde suitable for walking, nordic walking, running, rollerblading, and scootering too. A separation between the cycling lane and the pedestrian zone exists in the busiest stretches. For running, the recommendation is to go at first light: fewer people, better light.
People with reduced mobility
The path is paved, flat, and wide — accessible by handbike, electric wheelchair, and adapted tandem. Some operators rent handbikes and adapted tricycles. Pescara Centrale and Ortona stations have elevators. Worth noting are the accessibility initiatives promoted by Village For All, which has positively evaluated the Via Verde's usability for tourists with disabilities.
What to bring
Water: at least 1.5 liters per person during warmer hours. There are many refreshment points along the route, but public drinking fountains are not always available.
Sunscreen and a hat: the Adriatic sun is strong from May through September.
A light jacket or windbreaker: the sea breeze can cool things down quickly.
Swimwear and a towel: beaches are accessible practically everywhere — it would be a shame not to stop for a dip.
Camera: the trabocchi at sunset are a sight to behold.
Powerbank: to keep your smartphone charged, especially useful for GPS navigation.
Lock: usually included with the rental, but double-check.
Eating along the Via Verde
The path passes in front of sixteen trabocco restaurants, plus countless restaurants, trattorias, bars, and beach clubs in the towns along the way. For a dinner at a trabocco (an experience you owe yourself at least once in your life), check out our guide to trabocco restaurants with full details on reservations, prices, and what to expect.
For a quick lunch on the go (sandwiches, snacks, fruit, gelato), every town along the route has bars and local delis. The "aperifish" at sunset at a trabocco restaurant — a structured seafood aperitivo with a glass of wine, €20–35 — is a recent formula that has become very popular.
Frequently asked questions about the Via Verde
Is the entire Via Verde rideable by bike?
Almost entirely. There is a gap of about 2 kilometers between Lido Dragoni (Fossacesia) and Cala Le Morge (Torino di Sangro) that requires riding a section of the SS16 Adriatica. Work to complete the connection is underway. A few other short diversions on low-traffic municipal roads occur around Punta Aderci and Punta Penna. The rest is a separate, safe cycling and walking path.
How long does it take to ride the entire Via Verde?
Pedaling at a steady pace (15 km/h), 42 kilometers takes around 3 hours of actual riding. But that is a theoretical estimate: nobody rides the Via Verde without stopping. Factor in photo stops, lunch, and perhaps a swim, and you are looking at a full day (8–10 hours in total). With an e-bike, riding time drops to 2–2.5 hours.
Can I ride the Via Verde independently, or do I need to book a guided tour?
Completely independently. Simply arrive by train or car at any station or parking area along the route, rent a bike, and set off. The signage is clear, maps are everywhere, and the route is easy to follow. Guided tours are an option (for those who want historical, naturalistic, or gastronomic depth), not a requirement.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, on a leash. Many travelers ride the Via Verde with their dogs in a tow trailer or in a front basket. In protected areas (the Punta Aderci Reserve), follow the Reserve's specific regulations.
Is it possible to stay overnight along the Via Verde?
Yes — there is a wide range of accommodation: hotels, agriturismos, B&Bs, campsites, hostels, and holiday villages. Every municipality along the route has at least one option. Many are bike friendly (secure bike storage, on-site repair tools, cyclist-adapted breakfast). In peak season (July–August), book at least two weeks in advance.
Are there public drinking fountains along the route?
Very few. It is better to bring water from home or stock up at bars and beach clubs. At many refreshment points, water is offered free of charge to cyclists upon request.
Is the Via Verde being considered for UNESCO status?
The Costa dei Trabocchi as a whole — the historic trabocchi, the landscape, the traboccante culture — is being put forward as a UNESCO World Heritage candidate. The process is underway, led by the Regione Abruzzo, the Province of Chieti, and the GAL Costa dei Trabocchi. The Via Verde is one of the elements strengthening the nomination: it embodies the sustainable, tourist-friendly enjoyment of this heritage.
Can I bring my own bike on a Trenitalia regional train?
Yes — on regional trains along the Adriatic line, bikes travel free of charge in dedicated carriages (look for the bike pictogram). In summer, some trains have up to 64 bike spaces. On Intercity trains, a reservation with a €3.50 supplement is required. Always check timetables and availability on the Trenitalia app.
Experience the Via Verde with Stravagando
Cycling the Via Verde is not simply "going for a bike ride": it is discovering the Costa dei Trabocchi at the right pace — stopping when the sea calls you, climbing onto a trabocco at sunset, sleeping in a B&B perched above the cliffs, setting off again at dawn as the fishermen leave the harbor. It is slow travel. Quiet luxury. Open to everyone.
Stravagando is the Italian marketplace dedicated to experiences exactly like these: guided cycling experiences on the Via Verde, train + bike + trabocco packages, sunset photography on the headlands, historical stops at the Promontorio Dannunziano and the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, birdwatching in the Punta Aderci Reserve — led by cycling guides and local hosts selected one by one. We are building our catalog of experiences on the Costa dei Trabocchi right now: in the coming months, you will be able to book directly from here.
In the meantime, if you are a bike rental operator, cycling tour operator, bike-friendly B&B, or any Via Verde business and you want to join our network, get in touch: you are exactly who we are looking for.
And if you are a traveler, sign up for the Stravagando newsletter: we will let you know as soon as the first Via Verde experiences are bookable online — with transparent pricing, certified hosts, and editorial curation that we promise is different from the big generalist marketplaces.
Safe travels.