In Santa Maria Maggiore, traces of the past dating back to the early centuries of Christianity are visible, representing the oldest core of the medieval city. This area was once part of the “castellum,” the nucleus of urban revival after the depopulation following the Gothic War in the sixth century. By 427, a church dedicated…
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…
The Church of San Pietro in Vasto, although no longer existing today, having been demolished after a landslide in 1956, represents a fundamental chapter in the religious and cultural history of the city. Its story, full of events and changes, is closely intertwined with the events of Vasto and its noble families. Its origins are…
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 Roman baths of Vasto were built on the edge of the town of ancient Histonium in the second century AD, and were one of the main attractions of the Roman city for about three centuries. Damaged by the Sannio earthquake in 346 AD, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, they were progressively…
The “Loggia Amblingh” is the most beautiful panoramic walk in Vasto, between Piazza Marconi and the perimeter wall of the gardens of Palazzo d’Avalos. The route was created at the beginning of the twentieth century when the collapse of Gabriele Rossetti’s birthplace, built on the old walls, had made the city government aware of the…
Nestled just off the beaten path, this small and quiet square is a hidden gem in the rich tapestry of Vasto’s history. Piazza Caprioli owes its name to the renowned jurist Virgilio Caprioli, born in 1548 in the family home at the corner of Via Barbarotta. Caprioli’s legacy endures, not only for his historical studies…
The Church of Santa Maria del Carmine is considered the most beautiful in Vasto from an architectural perspective, as it is the only one with a defined and cohesive style, both inside and outside. Its façade and bell tower, constructed between 1758 and 1761 based on designs by architect Mario Gioffredo, are excellent examples of…
The Church of Sant’Antonio di Padova stands along Via Adriatica, its exterior modest and unadorned, reflecting its origins as part of a Franciscan convent. Built with a single nave and lacking decorative cladding—even on its brick façade—it still bears the telltale “putlog holes” once used to support scaffolding during its construction. While its outward appearance…
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…