The best MTB trails around Santa Maria Imbaro

Beautiful and really interesting

Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere – The divine balcony of Abruzzo. Resolutely hit the brakes and swap the coastline for a short, sporty climb up the hill for a moment. Atop the Promontorio di Venere awaits one of Italy's most magical and spiritual places. The Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere. This impressive 12th-century abbey was built on the foundations of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess of love, Venus. Surrounded by ancient olive groves, this place exudes a serene tranquility that contrasts beautifully with the lively beaches below. Why is this an absolute top highlight? The ultimate Belvedere! Next to the abbey is a beautiful viewing platform. From this 'balcony', you get a bird's-eye view of the perfect crescent bay of the Golfo di Venere and see the trabocchi like little wooden spiders in the turquoise sea. The hidden cloister garden: step inside for free and wander through the idyllic cloister (chiostro). The inner courtyard full of flowers and the graceful arched windows offer welcome coolness on a warm summer day. The mysterious crypt: descend the stairs beneath the altar. In the crypt, you can admire beautiful, well-preserved 13th-century frescoes. Komoot tip: the climb from the Via Verde in Fossacesia Marina to the abbey is short but steep. With an e-bike, you'll be there in no time, but even on your own power, this panorama is worth every drop of sweat. An unforgettable cultural and photo stop!

Terracotta Art on the Via Verde: "The Ancestor Visit" Right along the Via Verde cycle path, you'll find this fascinating, hidden artwork! The sand-colored terracotta sea turtle was created by the talented artist Victor Fotso Wakam. The work, titled "The Ancestor Visit", honors the maritime nature and reminds passers-by of the fragility of the local ecosystem. On the turtle's back, you can see a detailed tower and sea creatures rising up, creating a beautiful contrast with the rugged cliffs of the coastline. Why is this a unique Komoot highlight? 📸 Perfect composition! This is one of the most artistic photo spots along the route. The sculpture is positioned so that you can photograph it perfectly with the iconic Trabocco Punta Tufano in the background. ⚓ Authentic location. You'll find the turtle on the cliff just above the cozy, historic little harbor of Vallevò. 🎨 Open-air museum: The artwork shows how the Via Verde is increasingly becoming a vibrant cultural route, where nature, history, and modern art merge. 💡 Komoot tip: be careful when taking your photo! The hind leg of the fragile terracotta sculpture has unfortunately already been accidentally damaged in the past by careless tourists. So, admire this beautiful monument with respect.

Castello Aragonese – Historic viewpoint above the Adriatic Sea The Castello Aragonese is the impressive northern starting point of the Costa dei Trabocchi. This 15th-century fortress stands high on a steep cliff and offers you a magnificent view over the Adriatic Sea, the port of Ortona, and the coastline of the Via Verde dei Trabocchi. The massive round towers and thick fortress walls are reminiscent of a turbulent past. The castle withstood heavy fighting during World War II, after which part of the complex was lost. As if that were not enough, in 1946, a landslide caused almost half of the fortress to disappear into the sea. Today, it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Ortona and an ideal stop during your cycling or hiking tour. The castle ruins and inner courtyard are freely accessible. A short, steep climb awaits from the port, but it is amply rewarded with beautiful panoramas. Around the castle, you will also find cozy terraces and shady benches to catch your breath.

Directly along the busy Via Verde della Costa dei Trabocchi lies a hidden cultural treasure that most cyclists simply whiz past: the Area Archeologica di Murata Bassa (Lungomare di Gualdo). Although the Roman remains are sometimes a bit overgrown, this is the ideal place to put your bike aside and take a break. Why you'll want to dismount here: coolness in the shade. The small, covered archaeological building offers a delightful, shady refuge from the burning afternoon sun. Perfect for catching your breath and having a drink with the thought that 2000 years of history lie beneath your feet. At this exact spot, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of a luxurious Roman coastal villa from the 1st century BC, which was later converted into a small factory with a large oven for terracotta oil lamps. The large information board on site tells you the whole story in Italian and English. Unique photo spot to capture a beautiful memory. From the elevation at the excavations, you have a beautiful, slightly higher view over the coastline and the trabocchi below. In summary: this highlight is a quiet, shady mini-break full of history, just before or after the hustle and bustle around the tunnels of Marina di San Vito!

Flat and car-free: The route is laid out on a former railway line directly on the Adriatic Sea. It is fully asphalted, flat, and 100% car-free, making it perfect for any type of cyclist (from road cyclists to families).Unique setting: You cycle right past the iconic trabocchi: wooden, spider-like fishing platforms that hover over the waves. At many of these platforms, you can stop nowadays for a unique lunch or dinner with fresh fish.

Cycling through historic railway tunnels 🚂🚴 One of the most special experiences on the Via Verde dei Trabocchi is cycling through the beautifully restored railway tunnels. These impressive passages, carved out of brick and tuff stone, literally take you back in time. You follow the original route of the Ferrovia Adriatica from 1863 here. For more than 140 years, steam and diesel trains ran here right along the coast and the waves, until the railway line was moved inland in 2005. Today, the tunnels have been transformed into comfortable cycle paths with a smooth surface and automatic LED lighting. On warm summer days, the thick stone walls provide a wonderful natural coolness. Some tunnels still have the old openings to the sea, which now serve as beautiful viewing windows onto the azure Adriatic Sea. A unique combination of history, adventure, and spectacular views along the way.

Alessandro Fantini Mural: A Tribute to a Cycling Legend 🚴‍♂️🎨Near the beach of Spiaggia Ripari Bardella, you will find this impressive mural. The artwork was created in April 2023 by street artists Nicola Di Totto (Dueneko) and Lorenzo Nicoletti (Skugio). This was done especially for the Grand Départ of the Giro d'Italia 2023 on the Costa dei Trabocchi.Who was Alessandro Fantini?The sprint king of Abruzzo: "Sandrino" Fantini was born in 1932 in nearby Fossacesia.Great successes: As an explosive sprinter, he won no fewer than seven stages in the Giro d'Italia and two stages in the Tour de France during his professional career (1955–1961).Tragic end: In 1961, during a mass sprint in the Tour of Germany, he crashed heavily, passing away at the young age of 29.What else do you see here?Right next to Fantini's portrait, you will find the colourful, multi-metre-long artwork "Dal primo all'ultimo" (From the first to the last). This mural depicts a compact cycling peloton stretching for a good 60 metres along the wall.