Silvi Alta

In the pre-Roman era, Silvi was likely the location of the commercial port for the Picene city of Hatria (modern-day Atri), which already represented a thriving reality on the Italian peninsula.

After the Social Wars, Atri became a Roman colony, and Silvi continued to serve the city. During this period, the commercial port flourished, particularly in the trade of wines and as a strategic point for accessing the Via Salara, which connected Porto d’Ascoli and Rome.

In the Roman era, the territory experienced incredible prosperity, to the extent that Hatria gave rise to the gens Elia, from which the emperor Hadrian descended. According to some interpretations, even the name of our Adriatic Sea might derive from Hatria.

Since then, the location where Silvi Alta now stands, halfway between Silvi Marina and Atri, became a lookout point to protect the powerful colony.

With the fall of the empire, we have little information about Silvi Alta. What we know for certain is that already in the early Middle Ages, there was a village on the hill known as Castrum Silvae or Torre Belfiore. The church of S.S. Salvatore, which still serves the community of Silvi Paese, was built in 1100 AD.

What prompted the sailors of the port to seek refuge on a hill? Most likely, it was the constant pirate attacks from populations coming from Turkey. The legend of the Patron Saint of Silvi refers precisely to these episodes, which we will tell you about later.

In the Middle Ages, still connected to Atri, Silvi Alta was under the dominion of the French kings. In 1275, King Charles of Anjou passed through these places, leaving an inscription that can still be read on the side facade of the church of Ss. Salvatore, near the Monumental Arch that marked the entrance to the village.

In the modern era, Silvi, like the entire Abruzzo region, came under Spanish rule. On the one hand, it was a period of great prosperity because the city of Atri had become the city of the Dukes of Acquaviva, a powerful family that, between 1500 and 1600, even managed to produce the General of the Jesuits, Claudio Acquaviva. On the other hand, the village of Silvi experienced a real demographic crisis caused by continuous pirate sieges and epidemics.

It’s worth noting that at the end of the 15th century, to counter depopulation, King Ferdinand the Catholic of Spain ordered the repopulation of Silvi by welcoming Christian refugees from Dulcigno, a city in present-day Albania, conquered by the Ottomans. For a long time, the inhabitants of Silvi Paese were also called Dulcignotti. We will return to this story later.

Under Spanish rule, the Torre Cerrano was also built, now the headquarters of the Marine Protected Area. The tower is part of a series of coastal fortifications to protect the interior from sea invasions. Torre Cerrano, in particular, had the task of signaling the arrival of enemies to Silvi Paese, which in turn alerted Atri and initiated defense outposts.

The 1700s were marked by particularly bloody sieges by the Turks, such as that of 1714. But there was also an early entrepreneurial activity initiated by the Baron of Forcella, who opened the first licorice factory. This activity marked the commercial life of Atri and Silvi for a long time, where Saila was founded in the early 1900s.

The first impulses to break free from the control of Atri begin, and this is fully realized only in 1806 with the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy by Napoleon and the abolition of feudal privileges. A period of cultural and economic flourishing begins, and for centuries, Silvi attracts distinguished guests.

Among them, Gabriele D’Annunzio frequents the casinos and fashionable venues that begin to flourish between Silvi Paese and the coast. The strong appeal of Silvi towards upscale tourism continues for almost a century. Meanwhile, in Silvi Marina, the first vacation homes are built: they are elegant Liberty-style villas, intended for affluent families and their entourage. Bistros, casinos, hotels, dance halls, and cultural circles are born, attracting intellectuals from Abruzzo and beyond. The village of Silvi Alta, on the other hand, takes on its characterization as a seaside village: there, fishing families continue to live, while the wealthy families of Atri and Silvarole move to the coast, de facto founding Silvi Marina.

In 1937, entrepreneurs Menozzi and Barabaschi founded Saila, the candy factory that is still a famous and globally recognized brand. The production headquarters is still located in the center of Silvi Marina. In winter, on humid stormy days, the city fills with the scent of mint and licorice.

This success continues until the Second World War when the Abruzzo coast falls into the hands of the Germans, many of whom are heading to the bloody Sangro front. The Battle of Ortona, a coastal city about 40 minutes from Silvi Marina, is also famous as the Stalingrad of Italy, so fierce was the fighting.

During this period, the bombings that hit the coast (the signs are still visible in Pescara) spare not even Silvi Alta. The presence of cellars and underground structures, however, prompts many coastal inhabitants to return to the village, seeking shelter from the bombings within these underground spaces.

By the end of the war, almost 6,000 residents of Silvi Alta are evacuated to Atri, which also welcomes populations from Chieti and Pescara.

After the war, the situation gradually returns to normal. Until the 1970s, Silvi is a preferred nightlife destination for the entire Adriatic coast, attracting famous singers, actors, young people, and “Gentlemen” to its venues. This inclination earns it the nickname “Pearl of the Adriatic.”

The term “Gentlemen” is how, in the post-war period, the residents of Silvi, often fishermen or not wealthy, refer to vacationers who come to spend the summer in their homes. The people of Silvi abandon their residences to cram into garages and basements, thus earning a precious sum from summer rentals.

The tourist vocation that characterizes Silvi Marina begins, and it never abandons it. The village of Silvi Alta, on the other hand, experiences a depopulation phase and is forgotten by tourist maps.

Meanwhile, the type of beach tourism in Silvi shifts towards family tourism, leveraging the shallow and sandy waters, the clean Blue Flag water, and the presence of the Torre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area. From the 2000s onwards, the gradual rebirth of Silvi Paese also begins, becoming a privileged location for fairs and summer festivals.

Today, Silvi Paese is once again the driving force of tourism in Silvi. It attracts visitors from all over, captivated by the marvelous views, the convenient location to reach the sea, mountains, and villages. In the summer evenings, many establishments are open to savor local specialties or street food, and tourists and locals crowd the viewpoint. You often find markets, musical performances, and events that now make the village of Silvi Alta one of the best tourist attractions in the area.