Termoli
By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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Although Molise's coastline is very short, stretching less than 40 kilometres between the neighbouring regions of Abruzzo and Puglia, it can boast one of the best seaside towns in Italy.
Termoli is one of the major tourist attractions in Molise, particularly during the summer months when visitors come to enjoy its golden sandy beaches. It also works as a great stopover for trips to the Tremiti Islands which can be reached from its ferry port. |
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Exploring the centro storico
The most attractive area of Termoli is its centro storico, the historic centre which sits on a hill, overlooking the main beach on one side and the marina on the other.
Within the historic centre one of the major attractions is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Purificazione, the town's main church with its beautiful Romanesque facade. The cathedral faces out on to Piazza Duomo which is a hive of activity in summer; a great place for something to eat or drink and quite often a venue for festivals.
At the edge of the historic centre is the 13th century Swabian castle: Castello Svevo from which you can enjoy some of the best views down on to the beach. The castle makes up part of the walled area of the town which you can walk all the way around.
The walkway is made up of a series of brightly-coloured houses and at a certain point, you get a bird's-eye view of the characteristic Trabucco, a typical wooden structure used for fishing along this stretch of the Adriatic Coast.
Within the historic centre one of the major attractions is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Purificazione, the town's main church with its beautiful Romanesque facade. The cathedral faces out on to Piazza Duomo which is a hive of activity in summer; a great place for something to eat or drink and quite often a venue for festivals.
At the edge of the historic centre is the 13th century Swabian castle: Castello Svevo from which you can enjoy some of the best views down on to the beach. The castle makes up part of the walled area of the town which you can walk all the way around.
The walkway is made up of a series of brightly-coloured houses and at a certain point, you get a bird's-eye view of the characteristic Trabucco, a typical wooden structure used for fishing along this stretch of the Adriatic Coast.
Termoli's sandy beaches
There are two main beaches in Termoli, both with lovely soft sand. Just below the centro storico is Spiaggia di Sant'Antonio, fringed with restaurants and a number of private beach establishments, while just behind the beach lies the more modern area of the town that has a greater number of shops.
South-east of the walled historic centre, just after the port, lies another long stretch of beach, again with a number of paid areas but slightly lower-key and quieter than Sant'Antonio beach.
South-east of the walled historic centre, just after the port, lies another long stretch of beach, again with a number of paid areas but slightly lower-key and quieter than Sant'Antonio beach.
Ferry to the Tremiti Islands
From Termoli's port you can reach the small island group of the Tremiti Islands which are officially in Puglia. There are a choice of options between hydrofoil and ferry with journey times between 50 minutes (hydrofoil) and an hour and 15 minutes (ferry). The crossings are only available during the summer months but you can check the schedules on the Tremiti Islands Ferry Timetables page.
The most convenient airport for international travel into Termoli is Puglia's Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport which is a two hour drive (203 km) south-east along the coastal motorway. It's also possible to take a train from the centre of Bari to Termoli's centrally-located train station with a journey time of one hour and 48 minutes.
The most convenient airport for international travel into Termoli is Puglia's Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport which is a two hour drive (203 km) south-east along the coastal motorway. It's also possible to take a train from the centre of Bari to Termoli's centrally-located train station with a journey time of one hour and 48 minutes.
Comune di Termoli
Province: Campobasso
Region: Molise Population: 32,391 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 56 km² Highlights: beach, Castello Svevo, ferry to Tremiti Islands Water quality: Blue Flag Beach 2024 - 2025 Close by: Gargano National Park, Vieste, Campobasso, Pescara Recommended accommodation: Hotel Santa Lucia |