Montesilvano
Discovering Montesilvano: a brief guide to the Abruzzo municipality
If you're looking for a place to spend a seaside vacation, Montesilvano may be the right choice for you. This municipality in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo, is located north of the city of Pescara and together they form a large urban area. Montesilvano is divided into two parts: Montesilvano Colle, the historic center with remains of ancient medieval buildings, and Montesilvano Marina, the city center and seat of the municipality. With its inhabitants, Montesilvano is the second most populous municipality in the province and the third in the region.
Physical geography of Montesilvano
Montesilvano is located on the Adriatic Sea and borders Città Sant'Angelo to the northwest, Cappelle sul Tavo to the southwest, and Pescara and Spoltore to the south. The city occupies the flat area of the seafront and the hilly area of the historic center that draws an "L". The hilly area is part of the structural unit of the Apennine outpost, formed starting from the Miocene. The Saline river valley, composed of terraced alluvial deposits, is in the southern zone of Montesilvano.
The name of Montesilvano
The name Montesilvano derives from the Latin "Silvanus", ancient deities. "Monte" and "Silvano" join together to form the toponym of the Italian city.
The history of Montesilvano
The first traces of settlement date back to the Italic period, where a settlement on a hill in the vicinity of the Santa Venere fraction emerged to connect this hilly area of Montesilvano with the ancient Italic settlement of Colle del Telegrafo in Pescara. The ancient Roman road also passed through this area. The Villa Carmine neighborhood had a temple dedicated to Jupiter and several Roman villas have been found in the localities of San Giovanni and Collevento. The area had been conquered by the Romans in the 3rd-2nd century BC during the Roman Republic. At the fall of the Roman empire, the settlement disappeared, reappearing in the year 872 as "Mons Selbani", and then reappearing in 1175 as "Castellum Montis Silvani", among the properties of the bishop of Chieti.
What to visit in Montesilvano
If you want to spend a vacation discovering Montesilvano, I recommend visiting the historic center of Montesilvano Colle. Here you will find remains of ancient medieval buildings that will immerse you in the history of the city. Don't forget to visit Villa Carmine, where the temple dedicated to Jupiter was located. For those who love the sea, Montesilvano Marina offers beautiful beaches, spaces for sports, shops, and summer events.
What to eat in Montesilvano
Montesilvano offers a wide selection of typical dishes of Abruzzo cuisine. Not to be missed are the appetizers such as panzanella, olive paste, mixed fried fish, and eggplant rolls. As a first course, I recommend trying the brodetto alla Pescarese, a typical fish soup of the area. In addition, homemade pasta like spaghetti alla chitarra or maccheroni alla mugnaia are a must-try. Among the main courses, I recommend the agnello alla Pescarese and the coniglio in porchetta. And to finish, don't forget to taste the typical desserts of the area such as sanguinaccia or fiadone.
Montesilvano is the perfect destination for a seaside vacation immersed in the history and culture of Abruzzo. With its characteristic historic center, beautiful beaches, and typical cuisine, you can't help but be fascinated by this wonderful municipality.
