The Museum of the People of Abruzzo is one of the most worthwhile stops in Pescara, particularly for visitors who want to understand the region's rural and pastoral heritage rather than just its beach. The museum traces life in Abruzzo from prehistoric times through to the 20th century, with particular emphasis on the transhumance culture — the seasonal migration of shepherds and their flocks between the mountain pastures and the lowland winter grazing grounds — that shaped the region's identity for centuries.
The collections include agricultural tools, traditional costumes, religious objects, and reconstructed domestic interiors that convey the hardship and ingenuity of mountain life. There are also well-presented sections on the prehistoric and Roman heritage of the area, including finds from the ancient Roman port town of Aternum, which once stood at the mouth of the Pescara river. The building itself is historically significant — a former Bourbon prison of the early 19th century that has been well converted for its current purpose.