If this photo made you scratch your head in confusion—seeing sheep on the beach instead of sunbathers and umbrellas—don’t worry, you’re not alone! Yet, until at least the 1940s, this was a common sight: shepherds would pass along the coast with their flocks during seasonal transhumance, following the route of the Tratturo Magno.
For local residents, the sheep were unusual guests, appearing only twice a year when transhumance passed through. Imagine the scene: a long river of wool flowing along the shoreline for three uninterrupted weeks, sparking awe and curiosity.
It wasn’t until the post-war period, with the rise of mass consumer society, that tourism began to take over these areas. Beaches became filled with umbrellas and sandcastles, and shepherds also changed their habits: instead of walking the Tratturo Magno, they started using trains for transhumance, as we mentioned in a previous article.
And what happened to the Tratturo Magno? Well, that was also the era of major infrastructure projects, so much of its route was absorbed into the Adriatic Highway (Statale 16) and other paved roads. That’s why, in our documentary Le vie della lana, we set out to find the hidden parts of the Tratturo Magno that still preserve their original charm.
The landscape has changed drastically, and sheep have been replaced by crowds of tourists—though these days, no one finds them surprising anymore!
A special thanks to the Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo in Pescara for providing this photo.
Title: Transhumance on the Beach, Francavilla al Mare (CH)
Photo: Olinto Cipollone, Archive of the Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo, Pescara.