The area now known as Piazza Barbacani, seamlessly integrated into the modern city and considered the “square in front of the Town Hall,” was once a steep slope descending from the castle walls into the valley below. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the area was filled in to create what would later become…
Situated today in front of the Belvedere Romani, which overlooks the Angrella valley, the Arch of Porta Nuova is both the oldest and the most recent gate of the historic city. Built in 1790 under the direction of Master Juror Giuseppe Tambelli, the arch occupies a location about twenty meters behind its original position, where…
A circular tower overlooks Piazza Verdi, the city’s main traffic crossroads, easily identifiable by its fifteenth-century base, which contrasts with the second floor built in the twentieth century and covered in plaster. This is the Santo Spirito Tower, one of the five towers that originally formed part of the defensive bulwarks of the “degli inforzi”…
Hidden among the alleys between Corso Plebiscito and Corso Garibaldi, the Diomede del Moro Tower, also known as the Damante Tower, stands out as the best-preserved of the three surviving towers of the city walls completed by Giacomo Caldora in 1439. To fully appreciate its structure, one must view it from Vico Storto del Passero,…
The Bassano Tower, rising twenty meters above the main city square, is named after the Bassano family. This family arrived in Vasto from the Republic of Venice in the previous century, built the tower in the seventeenth century, and made it their residence for nearly two centuries. Today, the tower features a shop on the…
Jacopo Caldora, also known as Giacomo Caldora, was an Italian nobleman, military leader, and captain of fortune who lived from 1369 to 1439. His legacy is closely tied to the history of Vasto, where he became lord in 1422. The son of Giovanni Antonio Caldora, Jacopo displayed exceptional military talent from a young age, quickly…
Porta Catena is the only gate of the medieval city wall remaining in the city, and its construction took place between 1391 and 1439. It has a beautiful pointed arch in brick, surmounted by a round arch, which supports the upper part protruding. Porta Catena has evidently been remodeled at various times, but some original…
The Caldoresco Castle in Vasto is one of the city’s most significant historical landmarks. With its imposing silhouette standing out against the sky, it has symbolized power and strength for centuries.The current structure, with its eclectic and composite forms, serves as a living testament to the city’s rich history. By observing it closely, one can…
Built around 1427 by Giacomo Caldora, the lord of Vasto, on land previously owned by the Augustinian convent, Palazzo d’Avalos became the property of the Marquises d’Avalos in 1496. While the d’Avalos family preserved the late Gothic structure of the palace—details of which are still visible today thanks to recent restorations—they expanded and enhanced the…