Traditional Italian fishing at Termoli

Amidst fried fish and trabucchi, the identity of Termoli is forever tied to the sea and the very life of this city draws its economic vitality from the water. A good look along this part of Molise's ocean littoral, on the Adriatic Sea, reveals a series of unusual wooden structures known in Italian as trabucchi.

Similar to big insects with long antennas, the trabucchi are traditional fishing contraptions, rigorously built using the wood of pine trees and introduced to this part of Italy by the able Phoenician navigators. Over the course of the years, trabucchi became the symbol of Termoli's mariner culture, while maintaining their practical fishing function.

The Termoli area is the only beach zone in the region of Molise, drawing a large number of tourists each year. Enthusiasts of aquatic sports will find the beach of Rio Vivo the perfect place to pass free time on a holiday, while the ancient borough of the city and her castle offer an enchanting view. The Christopher Columbus boardwalk is ideal for an evening stroll.

The origins of the Swabian castle, that dominates the city of Termoli, are shrouded by a sort of thick historical cloud. In fact, despite being called Swabian, many typical elements of the castle suggest it was a defensive fortress from the Norman era.

Efforts to reconstruct history have not been successful, but perhaps precisely because of its stylistic mix the castle retains a certain exclusive quality. The spacious halls and rooms of Termoli's Swabian castle often host painting and photographic exhibitions of high artistic merit.