Vasto Vacation Rentals

Vasto is a beautiful town on the Adriatic coast, in the southern part of Abruzzo. The town has a lot of history and is very diversified: It has golden beaches, opportunities for great shopping, museums, and marvellous restaurants.

HISTORICAL FACTS Vasto is near the coast line and it is known to be one the oldest Frentani cities ever built. Legend says that Diomede decided to build his own hamlet here because it reminded him of mount Corfu. This is where the ancient name, Histon ("mount" in Greek), came from.
Initially, the hamlet was populated by Dalmations (not the dogs, but people from Dalmatia, former Yugoslavia), then Etruscans, then Siracusans, Samnites, Romans, and Frentani, in that order. The Frentani, who were a solid tribe that lived between Ortona and the Vasto area, decided to build and utilize the port of Punta Penna.
Evidence of this historic port is clear from the amphoras and coins found in the area. It was a prolific commercial port. During the Roman Empire, Histon’s name turned into Histonium and the town became a Roman Municipium. During the Imperial ages, Histonium was invaded by Barbarians that largely destroyed the hamlet
Later on, Histonium was conquered by a Frenchman named Aymone. He built a fortified hamlet upon the ruins of Histonium and called it Guast d’Aymone. This story supports the development of the Vastese dialect, which is said to have taken root during the rule of Guast d'Aymone. Today, the Vasto dialect has a very strong French influence, as some words resemble French words very much. During the dark ages of pre-medieval times, the hamlet was assigned to the Spanish noble family D’Avalos, which built the Palazzo d’Avalos. The palace was modified by the Turks in the late 1400s and then rebuilt right away in Renaissance style. The palace was also the home of Vittoria Colonna, a close friend of Michelangelo.
The D’Avalos family dominated during feudal times, together with the Caldora family who settled in Vasto before the D’Avalos and had built the Caldora castle. The Caldora castle preserves some archaic elements like the structure overhanging the "mandorla" (almond-shaped) ramparts that co-exist with the round, outmoded towers. The original building, a square plan with corner round towers, was transformed by Giacomo Caldora, feudatory of Vasto in 1440. It was then partly demolished by the local popular uprising against the feuds and then converted into a fortress.
WHAT TO SEE
- Palazzo D’Avalos and its museums - Castello Caldoresco - Piazza Rossetti - Rossetti’s house (he was a famous poet/writer from the 1800s that was forced out of town because he was seen as a political threat) - Vasto Marina beautiful beaches - Punta Penna’s port - Punta Aderci natural beach resort - Excavated Roman Thermal baths and temple near the Church of San Antonio - San Giuseppe cathedral rebuilt in different eras