Pescara
Abruzzes

Pescara

118,300 residents · 224,800 within 5 km · 3 m above sea level

81Quality of life
73Infrastructure
77Economy

What Pescara is actually like

Pescara, located along Italy's Adriatic coast in Abruzzo, is an attractive destination for expats and retirees. The city boasts excellent transport links, making it easy to explore the surrounding region, which offers a blend of stunning beaches and picturesque mountain landscapes. Local cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood and handcrafted pasta, complemented by a robust wine culture. With a vibrant nightlife and various cultural institutions, from theaters to art galleries, Pescara provides a lively atmosphere for residents. However, challenges exist. Public transportation can be limited outside urban areas, necessitating a car for convenient travel. The variances in climate should also be considered, alongside understanding local healthcare options. Learning Italian is beneficial, as English is less commonly spoken in this part of Italy. Despite these challenges, many expats find Pescara's charm and community spirit welcoming and rewarding.

How Pescara is built

Post-war expanded comune

Pre-war 11%Mid-century 70%Modern 19%
Settlement pattern
Compact
1% of homes scattered in the countryside
In town 99%Dispersed 1%
Condition
85%
Some wear — 15% needs work
Good / excellent 85%Poor / mediocre 15%
Occupancy
81%
Lived-in year-round — 19% holiday or vacant
Main homes 81%Holiday or vacant 19%
PescaraCase Candeloro
Historic coreEstablishedPost-warModernRuralSparsely built

Building age, condition and occupancy from the ISTAT census (2011), by census section. Occupancy is shown as one honest split — the 2011 census does not reliably separate holiday homes from vacant ones.

Towns like Pescara

Closest matches in Abruzzo on quality of life, infrastructure and economy.

  • Avezzano — L'Aquila · 40,900 residents
  • Teramo — Teramo · 51,600 residents
  • Sulmona — L'Aquila · 21,800 residents
  • Montesilvano — Pescara · 53,600 residents
  • Spoltore — Pescara · 19,000 residents
  • Chieti — Chieti · 48,400 residents

The rest of the Pescara profile — cost of living, healthcare, climate, broadband, schools and the full pros & cons — is behind a free account.