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A trabucco (), known in some southern dialects as trabocco or travocc,Original meaning is "trap" or "deep trap", then the term was applied to high military wooden construction ("trebuchet") and, over several centuries, was used in the Middle Ages to besiege rivals Fortification. See: Ottavio Lurati, Toponimi e Géologia, in Semantic, XXIX, Number 2, December 2008, 446. is an ancient fishing structure typical to the Adriatic shores of Abruzzo — famously dubbed the Costa dei Trabocchi (Trabocchi Coast) and the Gargano coast, where they are preserved as historical monuments within the Gargano National Park. These distinctive structures are prevalent along the southern Adriatic coastline, particularly in the Italian provinces of Chieti, Campobasso, and Foggia. Trabucchi can also be found on certain parts of the southern coast along the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The differing coastal morphology of the Gargano Peninsula versus farther south has given rise to two distinct variants. The Gargano type is fixed to a rocky spur and aligned longitudinally with the shoreline, with the antenne projecting seawards. The version seen in Abruzzo and Molise, technically termed bilancia, is usually built on shallower beaches: its platform lies transverse to the coast and is linked to land by a narrow wooden gangway. Abruzzese installations typically employ a single winch—often motor-driven even in calm conditions—and carry a smaller net than their Gargano counterparts. They also differ in the length and number of antenne: bilancie in Termoli rarely exceed two beams, whereas structures on the Gargano and in northern Apulia (Barletta, Trani, Molfetta) commonly have two or more. I trabucchi del Gargano, by Maria Teresa Rauzino, Rita Lombardi, Raffaella Specchiulla, Ignazio Polignone, 2007
Fishing is conducted a vista (by direct observation), intercepting schools that follow the coastal inlets with the dense lift net. Trabucchi are sited where the water depth reaches at least six meters, frequently on rocky promontories oriented south-east or north-west to take advantage of prevailing currents.
The net is lowered and raised by a system of winches operated by two people, while a typical crew of four—known as traboccanti—shares lookout and maneuvering duties.
Traditionally, trabucchi are built from Pinus halepensis, a species common in Gargano and throughout the central Adriatic that is easy to work, weatherproof, and resistant to salt, important since trabucchi must resist the strong local winds of Provence. From the second half of the 20th century their role in subsistence and commercial fishing has steadily diminished, reflecting changing regional economic conditions. Some trabucchi have been rebuilt in recent years, thanks to public funds,such as the Abruzzo regional law n. 99 of 16/9/1997 and many have been converted for restaurant use, often while still retaining their original fishing function.
The net is lowered into the water through a complex system of and, likewise, promptly pulled up to retrieve its catch. At least two men are entrusted with the tough task of operating the winches that maneuver the giant net. The small trabucchi of Abruzzo and Molise Coast are often electrically powered.
The trabucco is managed at least by four fishermen called trabuccolanti who share the duties of watching the fish and maneuvering.
Trabucchi are spread throughout the Trabocchi Coast in the Abruzzo region, where they are called travocchi (dialect of Molise and Abruzzo) in the province of Campobasso, Termoli, Chieti and south of Ortona and in the Gargano. They are also common between Peschici and Vieste, where most promontories feature a trabucco. The ancient trabucchi are protected by the Gargano, which adopted them for their traditional and environmental significance. They are a favorite subject of artists and craftsmen.
Area of diffusion of trabocco or bilancia variants
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