A balcony over the gulf with Palazzo d'Avalos and the beach of Punta Penna
On a hill overlooking the Adriatic, in the far south of the Abruzzo coast, Vasto is one of the most elegant towns of the region, with a historic centre rich in palaces, churches and squares. Its most beautiful spot is the Loggia Amblingh, a long panoramic walkway that runs along the edge of the old town, overlooking the sea, with a breathtaking view over the Gulf of Vasto, the beaches below, the Costa dei Trabocchi and, on clear days, the Tremiti Islands and the Gargano promontory. The heart of the town is the Palazzo d'Avalos, the residence of the d'Avalos marquises, powerful lords of Vasto in the Renaissance, which houses the Musei Civici, with an archaeological museum, an art gallery and a museum of costume, and a splendid Neapolitan-style garden overlooking the sea.
Vasto is also the birthplace of Gabriele Rossetti, poet and patriot of the Risorgimento, father of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti and of the poet Christina Rossetti; a monument to him stands in the main square. Other monuments include the Castello Caldoresco, the Cathedral of San Giuseppe and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Below the town, Vasto Marina has a long beach of fine sand, while to the north, the Riserva Naturale di Punta Aderci protects a wild coastline of cliffs and coves, with the beautiful Punta Penna beach, dominated by one of the tallest lighthouses in Italy. The local speciality is the "brodetto alla vastese", a fish soup with tomatoes and peppers.
Tip: walk the Loggia Amblingh at sunset; spend a day at the beaches of Punta Aderci; taste the brodetto.
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