Pescara Art Guide: From D'Annunzio to Spalletti and Botta
Pescara, known in ancient times as the Roman port Ostia Aterni, was officially established as a unified city in 1927. It is the birthplace of notable figures such as Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863), filmmaker Ennio Flaiano, and sculptor Ettore Spalletti (1940–2019). Spalletti's artwork is currently on display at Galleria Vistamare until February 2023. The Imago Museum, which opened its doors in 2021, features the Fondazione PescarAbruzzo collection and a photography exhibition by Joseph Beuys running until June 5. The Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo explores the region's history, while the Museo Paparella Treccia Devlet showcases maiolica and a Giorgio de Chirico exhibition until September 2022. Noteworthy sites include the Fontana della Nave, Ponte del Mare, and Cattedrale di San Cetteo. D'Annunzio's birthplace has been a museum since 1927, and culinary highlights feature Trieste's pizzette al padellino and Cafè Les Paillotes.
Key facts
- Pescara was founded as Ostia Aterni in Roman times and renamed Piscaria in the Middle Ages.
- The city unified in 1927 from two towns on opposite banks of the Aterno-Pescara river.
- Gabriele D'Annunzio was born in Pescara in 1863; his birthplace is now a museum.
- Ettore Spalletti (1940–2019) was from Cappelle Sul Tavo; his solo show at Galleria Vistamare runs until February 2023.
- Galleria Vistamare opened in 2001 and has two Milan spaces as of 2022.
- Imago Museum opened in 2021 in the former Banco di Napoli; Joseph Beuys exhibition until June 5.
- Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo covers human history from Paleolithic to contemporary.
- Museo Paparella Treccia Devlet holds over 150 Castelli maiolica pieces; de Chirico show until September 2022.
- Fondazione Zimei in Montesilvano shows Alek O. until July 9; also runs A Sud gallery.
- Mario Botta's Chiesa di San Rocco in Sambuceto is nearing completion.
- Ponte del Mare is a 446-meter cycle-pedestrian bridge inaugurated in 2009.
- Pineta Dannunziana is a 53-hectare nature reserve recently damaged by fire.
Entities
Artists
- Gabriele D'Annunzio
- Ennio Flaiano
- Ettore Spalletti
- Pietro Cascella
- Joseph Beuys
- Mario Schifano
- Carlo Antonio Grue
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Alek O.
- Mario Botta
- Heinz Beck
- Carlo Cestelli Guidi
- Benedetta Spalletti
- Federica Spalletti
- Vittoriano Spalletti
- Giacinto di Pietrantonio
- Matteo J. Coccia
- Francesco Nunziata
Institutions
- Galleria Vistamare
- Imago Museum
- Fondazione PescarAbruzzo
- Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo
- Museo Paparella Treccia Devlet
- Fondazione Zimei
- A Sud
- Casa Natale Gabriele D'Annunzio
- Cattedrale di San Cetteo
- Chiesa di San Rocco
- Villa Urania
- Palazzo UZA
- Ex Banco di Napoli
- Artribune
- Nero La Factory
- Pineta Dannunziana
- Las.fair
- Le Spaillotes
Locations
- Pescara
- Italy
- Ostia Aterni
- Cappelle Sul Tavo
- Città Sant'Angelo
- Bolognano
- Montesilvano
- Sambuceto
- Chieti
- Teramo
- Castelli
- Ortona
- Rocca San Giovanni
- Costa dei Trabocchi
- Milan
- Porta Venezia
- Marina di Pietrasanta
- Leopoli
- Abruzzo
- Pescara Centrale
- Pescara Porto
- Adriatic Sea