Martinsicuro between Coastal Biotope and Roman History

Martinsicuro combines an expansive coastal landscape with archaeological traces and vivid insights into local fishing. These themes are not confined to the past: along the water, the coastal biotope, fishing harbour and seafront promenade shape the character of the town.

Coast between Open Beach and Biotope

Martinsicuro has a coastline 6,300 metres long. 55 percent of it consists of open beach; there is also a section with a coastal biotope. Here, dunes form naturally along an extensive stretch of open beach. This coastal area is also noteworthy for visitors interested in natural history: every year, the Kentish plover, called Fratino in Italian, returns to the beaches of the coastal biotope to breed.

Cycling and Walking by the Water

A municipal cycle and footpath runs from the banks of the River Tronto and the migratory bird oasis via the landing stage for small-scale fishing and the seafront promenade of Martinsicuro to the coastal biotope. It then continues to the seafront promenade of Villa Rosa and as far as the mouth of the Val Vibrata. For planning purposes, the route can therefore be viewed as a succession of different waterside and coastal areas: the riverbank, small-scale fishing, promenade, biotope and further stretches of shore are connected by a single route.

Archaeology from Early History to the Imperial Period

The Antiquarium di Castrum Truentinum displays a Lombard tomb containing finds from the 6th and 7th centuries AD. These finds were discovered in the area of the River Tronto in Martinsicuro. The Antiquarium Castrum Truentinum is housed in the fully restored Casa Doganale and also displays archaeological finds from the Colle di Marzio area and the mouth of the Tronto. The exhibits date from the protohistoric period through to the Imperial period. The façade aedicule of the building bears the heraldic insignia of Emperor Charles V, including the double-headed Habsburg eagle.

The first excavations, carried out from 1991 to 1995, uncovered a commercial district with harbour warehouses, a public building—the “macellum”, or market—and an almost intact paved road. Colle di Marzio is under archaeological protection for its protohistoric and Roman sites.

Fishing as Part of the Townscape

In the area of the small harbour, where the fishermen’s boats moor, five rooms display fishing nets, fish traps, winches, baskets, buoys, compasses, old radar equipment, nautical charts and photographs. The Ecomuseo del Mare e della Pesca uses photographs and objects provided by older fishermen to present the history and different forms of fishing in Martinsicuro.

Getting There via the A14

Martinsicuro is located on the A14 and can be reached via the San Benedetto del Tronto–Ascoli Piceno or Val Vibrata exits.

More Destinations

Also discover Atri, Pineto, Morro D'oro, Notaresco, Alba Adriatica, Campli, Isola del Gran Sasso D'italia and Scerne.

To the higher-level travel overview: Teramo.