The Confraternity of Santissimo Sacramento, the second oldest in Vasto after the Confraternity of the Gonfalone—which later merged into the Confraternity of the Sacred Thorn—was founded in 1542 by Prelate Giovanni Berardino de Amicis. It was historically based in the collegiate church of San Pietro, where it remained active until the church was demolished following…
On February 22, 1956, Vasto was shaken by a catastrophic event that left a lasting mark on its history. A massive landslide sent Via Adriatica and the first row of houses overlooking it tumbling into the sea, sweeping away a significant portion of the historic city and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 families.…
In 1816, the town of Vasto experienced a landslide, one of several that would occur over the years, culminating in the major landslide of 1956, which destroyed part of the ancient Roman city and the historic Church of San Pietro. The 1816 event also struck the town’s eastern slope, affecting the stretch from the Porta…
Gabriele Rossetti spent his childhood and youth in Vasto until the age of 21, when, thanks to a recommendation from Count Wenceslaus Mayo—the father of a school friend and administrator of the d’Avalos estate in Vasto—he was welcomed in Naples by Marquis Tommaso d’Avalos, who financed his studies. With the arrival of the French in…
The exterior of Santa Maria Maggiore is irregular, built with rough brick, and contrasts with the artistic elegance of its Neoclassical interior. However, it bears numerous traces of the transformations the grand structure has undergone over time. For this reason, a full tour around the building is essential to truly appreciate its architectural evolution. Starting…
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 bell tower of Santa Maria Maggiore is the tallest tower in the city, clearly visible even from kilometers away if you look at Vasto from the south. The bell tower has a quadrangular section and is divided into three sections which refer to different moments of construction. The base of the bell tower of…
The Portone Panzotto is certainly one of the oldest and most characteristic places in Vasto. The alley which, from the center of the medieval district of Santa Maria, passing under some private houses, emerges at the beginning of the Loggia Amblingh. It is unclear where its name comes from. The historian Luigi Marchesani, in the…
At the top of the Tre Segni hill, at the end of what is now the century-old Villa Comunale, stands a small church overlooking the sea. This is the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, modest in size and located far from the historic town center, under the religious jurisdiction of Santa Maria Maggiore. Yet, despite…
One of the most beautiful places in Vasto is its Municipal Garden, known as Villa Comunale. For over a century, this space has been a beloved retreat where nature, history, and culture blend seamlessly, serving as the go-to spot for relaxation and leisure for locals of all ages. The Municipal Garden was originally designed as…