The Sea
Petacciato Marina, a few kilometers from the ancient village, boasts over 7 km of coastline characterized by beaches of fine, light sand, framed by dunes and scrubland
Mediterranean, which offer a landscape that is still little anthropized. The crystalline waters
of the Adriatic, with shallow and sandy seabeds, flanked by scented pine forests, offer
An ideal setting for those seeking relaxation away from mass tourism. On our
The beaches are home to nesting plovers and Caretta Caretta turtles lay their eggs, while the panorama that the beach offers contains within itself unique and different beauties: the
Gargano promontory, the Majella and Gran Sasso mountains and the Archipelago of the Islands
Tremiti are just some of these. The two local viewpoints, located a few kilometers from the
sea, in the town and overlooking the sea and the Molise hills, are a favourite destination for
scenic photographs at sunset, and observation of the landscapes with the two telescopes
recently installed. The bathing establishments present on our coast offer activities
sports, fishing and tastings of local specialties based on fresh fish.
The Saracen Tower
The coastal towers of Molise are part of the complex of coastal towers of the Kingdom of
Naples. Built between 1532 and 1594, it is estimated that as many as 700 were constructed throughout the Kingdom. Five of them were located in Molise, of which four remain today. The Saracen tower of Petacciato was designed to protect the coast from seaborne raids, particularly those by Turkish fleets, hence the name "Saracen towers." The construction of coastal towers like that of Petacciato followed very specific criteria, as they had to be able to communicate with nearby ones, through light signals at night and smoke signals during the day, to warn of potential dangers from the sea. Their location was also chosen to have the best possible view, even towards the hinterland, so that any alarm signals could be promptly sent from the fortification. The Petacciato tower communicated with the one in Termoli to the south, with the Montebello tower to the north, and with the Petacciato bell tower to the west. Built in sandstone blocks, although partly ruined, it is still visible today on the southern beach of Petacciato.
