Ortona

Ortona: Aragonese castle

Ortona, formerly Ortona a Mare, town, Abruzzi region, central Italy, on a promontory 230 feet (70 m) above sea level, on the Adriatic coast, about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Pescara. An ancient settlement, it was placed by the 1st-century-bc Greek geographer Strabo and the 1st-century-ad Roman scholar Pliny the Elder in the territory of the Frentani, a clan that allied itself with Rome in the 4th century bc. Ortona later became a Roman municipality. It was severely damaged by earthquakes on several occasions. In the 18th century it was annexed to the Kingdom of Naples and was subsequently absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy. Landmarks include the town’s cathedral, rebuilt after damage in World War II, and the Aragonese castle (1452).

A commercial and fishing port and seaside resort, Ortona also has facilities for the manufacture of bricks and macaroni; vines are cultivated in the area surrounding Ortona, and grapes are exported. Pop. (2006 est.) mun., 23,635.