Pescara is the ancient town of Vicus Aternum which was a common port for the people of Vestini, Marracini and Peligni. Pescara was destroyed by the barbarian invasions and later on it was rebuilt with the new name of Piscaria.
(Foto C. Crisante)
In 1927 it became a province joining two different districts: Castellamare Adriatico (which was part of the province of Teramo) on the northern side of the river, and Pescara (which was part of the province of Chieti) on the southern side.
Palazzo del Governo (Foto C. Crisante)
Nowadays Pescara is a modern and active city, and the one which has the biggest number of inhabitants in the whole region. The administrative centre of the city is located in Piazza Italia, where you can visit the Palazzo del Governo (Government Building), seat of Prefecture and Provincial Administration. It was built in 1927 by the architect Vincenzo Pilotti and inside it, in the provincial council hall, there is the painting “La figlia di Jorio” (Jorio’s daughter) (1895) that the painter Franceso Paolo Michetti did to pay tribute to Gabriele D’Annunzio.
The oldest part of the city lies on the southern bank of the river. Nowadays it is mostly restored and rebuilt, and it is full of restaurants and fashionable bars which get lively at night.
Gabriele D’Annunzio’s House Museum. (Foto C. Crisante)
In this area you can find two interesting museums: the Abruzzo Museum and Gabriele D’Annunzio’s House Museum. The first one is located in the former Bourbon penal colony. It’s a relevant ethnic-anthropological spot where you can follow the story of the people who used to live in that region. It also preserves many objects pertaining to the customs of the pastoral society in Abruzzo. The second museum is the house where Gabriele D’Annunzio was born the 12th March 1863. It keeps many of the letters, clothes and relics belonged to the poet.
Cathedral of Saint Cetteo (Foto A. Giansante)
Close to D’Annunzio’s house there is the Cathedral of Saint Cetteo, also called Temple of Conciliation.The architect Cesare Bazzani built it from 1933 to 1938 drawing his inspiration from the Romanesque style churches in Abruzzo.
Inside it you can see Luisa D’annunzio’s grave (poet’s mother) and a fine painting by Guercino, called S. Francis which was donated by Gabriele D’Annunzio.