Description of the attraction
Vasto is an ancient town in the vicinity of Pescara. The first settlement on this site was founded in the 13th century BC, and the city itself, according to legend, was founded by the Greek hero Diomedes. True, today most of the preserved historical and architectural monuments in the city date back to the Middle Ages.
Vasto was once one of the main cities of the Frentani people. It was founded on the Adriatic coast, 9 km south of Punta della Penna. In the era of Ancient Rome, it did not become a colony, but bore the honorary title of a municipality - a prosperous and wealthy city. This is evidenced by the surviving ruins of a theater, baths and other public buildings, decorated with numerous mosaics, statues and marble columns.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Vasto fell into the hands of the Byzantines, then the Franks and Lombards, and finally, in the 11th century, was conquered by the Normans. And since the 13th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Naples, which was later transformed into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In the 15th century, the Caldoras family ruled the city, on whose initiative a castle and numerous defensive towers that have survived to this day were built in the city - Torre Bassano in Piazza Rossetti, Torre Diomede in the town of Vico Storto del Passero, Torre Diamante in the square Piazza Verdi and Porta Catena.
Today Vasto is especially famous for its beautiful churches - here you can admire the Cathedral of San Giuseppe, the churches of Santa Maria Maggiore, Sant Antonio, San Francesco di Paola and Santa Maria dal Carmine. Among them, the church of Sant Antonio stands out - it has perfectly preserved stucco moldings of the luxurious Baroque era. In addition to the fact that the buildings of the churches are beautiful and deserve attention in themselves, you can also find real works of art in them.
In addition to the churches in Vasto, the aforementioned castle and two aristocratic palaces - Palazzo Caldora and Palazzo d'Avalos deserve attention. The building of the latter today houses the city museum.
