The Palazzo del Carmine, as it stands today, was built in 1738 alongside the renovation of the adjacent church. By the mid-17th century, a convent already occupied the site, likely adapted from earlier structures. It became home to the Lucchesi fathers, invited to Vasto by Marquis Diego d’Avalos to establish a college dedicated to educating…
The Holy Thorn is directly connected to the d’Avalos family, lords of Vasto, particularly Ferrante Francesco II d’Avalos, who served as the Spanish King Philip II’s delegate to the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1563. For his exceptional service, the nobleman from Vasto was granted the Thorn, with a papal bull from Pope Pius…
We enter the church through the vestibule, passing the stunning bronze doors created by sculptor Antonio Di Spalatro for the Jubilee Year 2000. From here, we step to the left into the central nave, walking beneath the choir loft, where a magnificent organ—crafted by Ponziano Bevilacqua in the early 20th century—stands. Below the loft, at…
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 D’Avalos family, likely of Visigothic origin, arrived in Italy as part of Alfonso I of Aragon’s entourage. They distinguished themselves through military prowess, diplomatic skill, and loyalty to the Crown—qualities that ensured they maintained a prominent role in both Italian and European politics of the time. The brothers Innico, Alfonso, and Rodrigo, sons of…
Since 1986, the Golden Fleece ceremony has been held annually in Vasto, bringing the city’s streets to life. Participants, dressed in elaborate and colorful 18th-century costumes, take part in two processions. One group represents the d’Avalos family and other influential families of the time, while the other portrays the Colonna family and their entourage. Once…
Cesare Michelangelo d’Avalos d’Aquino d’Aragona was born in Vasto on January 15, 1667, and baptized on January 19 in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. He was the third son of Diego I d’Avalos, Marquis of Vasto. After the untimely death of his elder brother, who left no heirs, Cesare Michelangelo assumed the title of…
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,…
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…
The facade of the church of San Pietro, demolished after the landslide of 1956, still stands in the square of the same name, and its Maiella stone portal almost seems to open a window onto the sea. The ancient door of San Pietro is not only a wonderful postcard view, but still retains a strong…