The Swabian castle, the village on the sea and the trabucchi
On the short Adriatic coast of Molise, Termoli is the main seaside town of the region, a lively port and resort with long sandy beaches. Its heart is the Borgo Vecchio, the old town, built on a rocky promontory jutting into the sea and enclosed by walls, a small maze of white houses, narrow lanes and small squares overlooking the water, where life flows slowly. At the entrance to the old town stands the Castello Svevo, a massive square fortress with corner towers, attributed to Frederick II, who rebuilt it in the thirteenth century after a Venetian raid, and which dominates the port and the sea. In the centre of the village rises the Cathedral of San Basso, a beautiful Romanesque church of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with a façade decorated with blind arches and sculptures, which preserves the relics of the patron saints.
In the old town, look for the "Rejecelle", a very narrow alley, about 34 centimetres wide, considered one of the narrowest streets in Italy, and for the walls of the houses decorated with murals by contemporary artists. Along the coast near the town, there are several trabucchi, the ancient fishing machines on stilts typical of the Adriatic, with long wooden arms and nets, some of which can be visited. From the port of Termoli, ferries and hydrofoils depart for the Tremiti Islands. In August, the town celebrates its patron saint, San Basso, with a picturesque procession of boats at sea, and the local cuisine is famous for the "brodetto alla termolese", a fish soup.
Tip: walk along the walls of the Borgo Vecchio at sunset; taste the brodetto alla termolese in a restaurant in the old town.
Where it is
More things to see in Molise
Where to stay near Termoli
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.