Along Italy’s Adriatic coast, you’ll find a unique seaside construction, the trabocchi (or trabucchi): they are a traditional type of fishing machine, popular in the regions of Molise, Puglia, and especially Abruzzo, specifically along the Costa dei Trabocchi, a stretch of coastline between Ortona and Vasto.

These traditional fishing machines are pretty unique wooden structures extending out over the water, and they have been used in the region for centuries. They are so important for locals and their heritage that they may soon become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List. But what are they exactly?