Torre del Cerrano marine protected area

Torre del Cerrano, the first marine protected area in Abruzzo and the central Adriatic, is a must-visit destination of exceptional quality. This area was once home to the ancient port of Cerrano, serving the hill town of Atri, also known as Hadria. This significant Roman port in Abruzzo was eventually destroyed by the Republic of Venice.

The coastline, stretching about 7 km, is teeming with diverse plant and animal species, some of which are ancient and rare, set against the backdrop of pristine nature that is vital to protect. Torre del Cerrano is also a historic coastal tower from the Kingdom of Naples. It was part of a system initiated by Viceroy Don Pedro Perafan de Ribera, Duke of Alcalà, who ordered the construction of coastal towers positioned to communicate with each other and alert against Saracen raids, as well as to repel such attempts with garrisons.

This Marine Protected Area which also includes the Torre del Cerrano is a very particular place that can be found in the province of Teramo and that is worth visiting in particular for the perfect combination of unspoiled nature and history.

The vegetation

The vegetation that can be found in this area is typical of low and sandy coast environments. This dune vegetation presents wonderful examples of sea lily, Verbasco del Gargano, and Euphorbia on the beaches. There are also areas where you can find characteristic marine pine forests, inhabited by the Aleppo pine and the pine nut pine, and it is also possible to admire the very rare Zafferanetto of the beaches.

The fauna

The refectory, a rare migratory bird that frequents the beach from April to September and which returns in spring to lay its eggs, nests within these plant areas. In addition to the numerous animal species that roam the surface, the marine area features several marine animal species including beautiful examples of Adriatic Gastropods and the Adriatic Trivia. Within the Marine Protected Area, it is possible to come across fish and mollusks such as sea bass, sole, and bream that live in these sandy bottoms in shoals, as well as the particular Chamelea gallina known as Adriatic clam

The Torre del Cerrano

The Tower, as we said, is a rare example of the fortifications built during the Kingdom of Naples to defend the territory from the attacks of the Turkish and Saracen enemies. Its construction dates back to the mid-sixteenth century and several side parts have been added over time. Right in front of the Tower are the remains of the ancient port of the city of Hadria, probably a city dating back to Roman times. Inside the tower it is possible to visit the Museum of the Sea, along a path that from the bottom to the top allows visitors to go from the Adriatic seabed to the sky in an instructive and interesting journey.