The Punta Aderci nature reserve, also called Punta d'Erce, protects 285 hectares of coast in the municipality of Vasto. It was established in 1998 by a regional law and was the first protected natural area along the coast of Abruzzo; it was later recognised as a site of Community importance. It runs from the mouth of the river Sinello, to the north, on the border with Casalbordino, as far as the port of Vasto, to the south. The name comes from the Punta Aderci promontory, 26 metres above the sea, and is linked to archaeological remains dedicated to Hercules that once stood on the site.
What to see
The shoreline alternates bays, coves, cliffs and beaches of pebbles and of sand: from north to south Torre Sinello, Mottagrossa, Punta Aderci with its trabocco fishing platform, the Libertini and Punta Penna. Along the edge of the beach and at the foot of the cliffs run the dunes, where the vegetation is arranged in parallel bands; among the plants is marram grass, which appears with the Kentish plover in the reserve's logo.
Behind the coast the land is flat and hilly, mostly planted with grass crops, olive groves and vineyards. Birds include the grey heron, the black-winged stilt, the greater flamingo, the kingfisher and the bee-eater; out at sea the striped dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin are present. On clear days, towards the north-west, the outlines of the Gran Sasso and the Maiella, the Sibillini and the Conero can be seen.
Visiting
The reserve is crossed by paths, one of which links it to the Bosco di Don Venanzio reserve, at Pollutri, and by a stretch of the Adriatic cycle route, which follows the old railway line and passes through pinewoods. It is managed by Vasto town council with the Cogecstre cooperative; access, rules and guided visits should be checked on the reserve's official website.
Our editors' tip
Off the beach of Punta Penna, among the rocks closest to the shore, there is a natural amphitheatre under water where several endemic species of aquatic plants grow. Inside the reserve's boundary there is also an archaeological area.
