It is no coincidence that it has been awarded the Blue Flag for sustainability, the Green Flag for child-friendly beaches, and the Yellow Flag for camper van tourism, as well as being among the Authentic Villages of Italy.

The village of Silvi Alta, ancient Castrum Silvi, is a medieval jewel set on a steep, lush spur. Supported by round-arched walls, it has preserved its original urban layout, with a central street and a network of small alleys. On your walk, stop at the Belvedere overlooking a mighty arched wall, built to protect residents from pirates: you will enjoy an extraordinary panorama from the peaks of the Gran Sasso to the Conero promontory, up to the Tremiti.

In the main square at the entrance to the town, you can admire the Church of San Salvatore, built in the 11th century. The one-nave Baroque interior preserves the wooden bust of Saint Leo, while the two stoups and the remains of a fresco probably depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria remain from the old medieval church.

At the beginning of Corso Umberto you will notice a historical fountain from the 20th century, enclosed between ancient stone and brick buildings. It features a semicircular basin and three jets inside round-arched niches equipped with their own basins; above each arch is the symbol of Silvi.

Going down towards the coast, you will come across the Church of San Rocco, built in the 16th century as a rural chapel and rebuilt in the 19th century. It has a gabled roof and a bell gable; the façade has a simple portal with a flat architrave and an oval window, while the interior consists of a small hall.

Here you must taste the fish specialities of the Adriatic Sea, from brodetti (fish soup) to frittura di paranza (fried fish), in addition to the dishes of Teramo cuisine related to the land. But the real excellence is liquorice: in 1937 in Silvi Saila was established, one of the largest Italian companies for the purchase and processing of this delicacy, thanks to the excellent quality of the roots harvested in the area. A symbolic activity, as testified by the liquorice aroma that pervades the town.

Another reason to visit Silvi? The last weekend in May is the celebration of San Leone, the patron saint of Silvi Alta. The main attraction is the “Ciancialone”: a bundle of reeds 8/10 metres high, lit from the top. Around the bonfire, people sing and dance to commemorate the miraculous event of the 14th century, when a young man named Leone would have headed towards the sea with a torch in his hand, averting the invasion of the Turks.