# Pescara

> city in Abruzzo, Central Italy

**Wikidata**: [Q2704](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2704)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescara)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pescara

## Summary
Pescara is a city and comune situated in the Abruzzo region of Central Italy. It serves as the capital of the Province of Pescara, a status established on January 2, 1927, and is located at the mouth of the Aterno-Pescara river. As a significant large human settlement and administrative center, it functions as the chef-lieu of the province and is classified as a big city within the Italian municipal system.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Pescara is a city in Abruzzo, Central Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Pescara.
- **Area:** The city covers an area of 34.36 square kilometers (as of October 9, 2011).
- **Population:** The population was recorded as 118,657 on January 1, 2023, down from 119,217 in 2018 and 120,525 in 2016.
- **Coordinates:** The central coordinates are 42.464277777778° latitude and 14.214188888889° longitude.
- **Elevation:** The city is situated 11 meters above sea level.
- **Establishment as Capital:** Pescara became the capital of its province on January 2, 1927.
- **Administrative Codes:** The ISTAT ID is 068028, the Italian cadastre code is G482, and the license plate code is PE.
- **Postal and Dialing Codes:** Postal codes range from 65121 to 65129, and the local dialing code is 085.
- **Patron Saint:** The city's patron saint is Cetteus.
- **Transport:** The city connects with European route E55 and European route E80; its UN/LOCODE is ITPSR.
- **Time Zone:** Pescara observes UTC+01:00 (standard time) and UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time).
- **Seismic Classification:** The city has a seismic classification of 3.
- **Geography:** It is located on the Aterno-Pescara river and contains the administrative territorial entity of San Silvestro.
- **Borders:** The city shares borders with Montesilvano, Spoltore, Chieti, San Giovanni Teatino, Francavilla al Mare, and Città Sant'Angelo.
- **Demonyms:** Residents are known by several demonyms including *pescaresi* (masculine plural), *aternini* (masculine plural), *pescarais*, *pescarezi*, and *aternini* (masculine plural).

## FAQs
**What is the population of Pescara?**
As of January 1, 2023, Pescara has a population of 118,657. This reflects a gradual decline from 120,525 residents in 2016 and 119,217 in 2018.

**Where is Pescara located and what is its geography?**
Pescara is located in Central Italy within the Abruzzo region. It lies at the mouth of the Aterno-Pescara river at an elevation of 11 meters above sea level and spans 34.36 square kilometers.

**What administrative roles does Pescara hold?**
Pescara is the capital of the Province of Pescara, a role it has held since January 2, 1927. It is classified as a *comune of Italy*, a *chef-lieu*, and a big city.

**Who is the current head of government?**
The head of government is Marco Alessandrini, who has served as the mayor of Pescara since June 16, 2014. Previous mayors include Luigi Albore Mascia, Luciano D'Alfonso, and Carlo Pace.

**What historical states has Pescara belonged to?**
Historically, Pescara was part of the Kingdom of Naples (ending in 1816), the Parthenopean Republic (1799), the Italian Republic (1802–1805), the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1816–1861), and the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946) before joining the modern Italian Republic in 1946.

**How is Pescara connected to the broader transport network?**
The city is connected to European route E55 and European route E80. It also holds the UN/LOCODE designation ITPSR.

## Why It Matters
Pescara serves as a crucial administrative and economic hub for the Abruzzo region, acting as the capital of its province since 1927. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Aterno-Pescara river and along major European routes (E55 and E80) establishes it as a vital node for transportation and commerce in Central Italy. The city's history is marked by its transition through various Italian states, culminating in its status as a major modern Italian city. Its significance is further highlighted by its demographic size and its role as a *chef-lieu*, overseeing the administrative affairs of the surrounding area. Additionally, the city's resilience is noted in its recovery from significant historical events such as the Bombing of Pescara during World War II.

## Notable For
- Serving as the capital of the Province of Pescara since 1927.
- Having a precise elevation of 11 meters above sea level.
- Possessing multiple historical demonyms, including *pescaresi*, *aternini*, and *pescarezi*.
- Being the site of the Bombing of Pescara during World War II.
- Being twinned with several international cities, including Miami Beach, Lima, and Split.
- Containing the administrative entity of San Silvestro.
- Having a dedicated seismic classification of 3.
- Possessing extensive documentation in encyclopedias such as the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition) and Treccani's Enciclopedia Italiana.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Pescara is geographically defined by its position on the Adriatic coast at the mouth of the Aterno-Pescara river. The city's coordinates are 42.464277777778° N and 14.214188888889° E, with an elevation of 11 meters above sea level. It encompasses a total area of 34.36 square kilometers. The city's boundaries touch several neighboring municipalities: Montesilvano, Spoltore, Chieti, San Giovanni Teatino, Francavilla al Mare, and Città Sant'Angelo. Geographically, the northernmost point is located at 42.4945604° N, 14.1862128° E; the southernmost at 42.4164624° N, 14.2296115° E; the easternmost at 42.4450747° N, 14.2538298° E; and the westernmost at 42.4807823° N, 14.1537363° E.

### Administration and Government
As a *comune of Italy* and a city, Pescara functions as the *chef-lieu* and capital of the Province of Pescara. It holds the Italian cadastre code G482 and the ISTAT code 068028. The local government is led by a mayor, with Marco Alessandrini holding the office of head of government since June 16, 2014. The office of the head of government is specifically the mayor of Pescara. The city's patron saint is Cetteus. Administrative identifiers include the license plate code PE, postal codes ranging from 65121 to 65129, and the local dialing code 085. The city is also assigned the seismic classification of 3. Within its administrative territory, Pescara contains the entity of San Silvestro.

### Demographics
The demographic data for Pescara shows a fluctuating population over recent years. On January 1, 2023, the population stood at 118,657. Earlier records indicate a population of 119,217 on January 1, 2018, 120,286 on February 28, 2017, and 120,525 on June 30, 2016. The inhabitants of Pescara are referred to by various demonyms, including *pescaresi* (masculine plural), *aternini* (masculine plural), *pescarais*, and *pescarezi*.

### History and Context
Pescara's historical context involves sovereignty changes over several centuries. It was part of the Kingdom of Naples (1302–1816), the Parthenopean Republic (January 23, 1799 – June 13, 1799), and the Italian Republic (January 26, 1802 – March 17, 1805). It subsequently belonged to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (December 8, 1816 – February 21, 1861) and the Kingdom of Italy (March 17, 1861 – June 18, 1946). Since June 18, 1946, it has been part of Italy. A significant event in the city's history is the Bombing of Pescara during World War II. The city became the capital of the Province of Pescara on January 2, 1927.

### Infrastructure and Transport
Pescara is integrated into the European transport network through its connections with European route E55 and European route E80. The city is assigned the UN/LOCODE ITPSR. It operates in the UTC+01:00 time zone during standard time and switches to UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time.

### Twinning and Relationships
The city maintains twinning agreements with several international and domestic administrative bodies. These include Arcachon (France), Miami Beach (USA), Lima (Peru), Split (Croatia), Casale Monferrato, Montichiari, Brescia, and Gardone Riviera (all in Italy).

### External Identifiers and Authority Control
Pescara is documented in numerous databases and authority files globally. These include the Library of Congress Control Number (n80089400), the VIAF ID (233790670), the GND ID (4256540-6), and the FAST ID (1209388). It is also listed in the National Library of Israel (J9U ID: 987007552493005171), the Bibliothèque nationale de France (ID: 122026645), and the Integrated Authority File (GND). Other identifiers include the MusicBrainz area ID (23450bbf-a589-4cd9-8d6e-cdb7536f60fa), the OpenStreetMap relation ID (42014), and the Yale Lux ID (place/6e1c7943-0c7c-47fc-b7f7-397da150fe93).

### Media and Resources
The city's visual representation is available through various media assets hosted on Wikimedia Commons. These include an aerial view, a montage image (2018), and specific views such as the river mouth viewed from the Ponte del Mare and views from Pianacce. Official symbols and maps include the flag, coat of arms, a page banner, and a locator map of the commune. The official website of the city is available at http://www.comune.pescara.it.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
7. [Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2017gen/index.html)
8. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
9. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
10. GeoNames
11. BBC Things
12. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-f9ft3l/Pescara/?center=42.46475%2C14.21318&zoom=19&popup=42.46476%2C14.21306)
13. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
14. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
15. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
16. Enciclopedia Treccani
17. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
18. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Pescara;3956184.html)
19. Seismic classification in Italy
20. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)