Vasto Marina, whose name comes from ancient Greek, is located in Abruzzo, in the province of Chieti and today it is the seventh most inhabited municipality in the region (with its 37,500 inhabitants).

Vasto can be easily reached. For those arriving by train the reference station is that of Vasto-San Salvo.

For those arriving by plane, the reference airport is Pescara.

By car the city can be reached through the A14 motorway that connects Bologna to Taranto. The motorway exits are Vasto Nord or Vasto Sud. The city is 65 km from Pescara, 200 km from Naples and 270 km from Rome.

In the past, the city was thought to have been called Histon by Diomedes while the inhabitants were composed of a tribe of Dalmatian origin. In reality, the Frentani settled on the territory, who had many contacts with the Samnites, with the Greek colonies and with the Sicilians. The Frentani became allied with the Romans and the name of the city was transformed from Histon into Histonium.

Vasto is visited every year by many tourists who go there to enjoy the beaches overlooking the Adriatic Sea, thanks to the climate mild preserved by the mountain range that protects the coast from cold currents. It is precisely the tourists who fuel the economy of the Abruzzo town more. Among the attractions are not only beaches but also sports, nature reserves, culture and shopping possible, especially among the alleys of the center historical.

It is considered as one of the richest in charm of those located in central Italy. The peculiarity of Vasto is that tradition is mixed with the modern. In the historic center you can visit the Caldoresco Castle but, above all, you can enjoy, from Piazzetta Belvedere, a captivating panorama of the entire Gulf of Vast. The castle dominates the gulf with its angular ramparts. The construction dates back to the 14th century even if it was modified under the reign of Caldora during 1439 and under the reign of Caesar of Avalos in the 17th century.

However, there are numerous other historic buildings in the city. Among these stands out the Palazzo D'Avalos created by Giacomo Caldora and which, probably, dates back to 1427. The D'Avalos, whose name the palace takes its name, never used the palace as a residence and was set on fire by a Turkish invasion. The building consists of a beautiful garden, recently restored, a courtyard and an extension on two levels. His original appearance, however, was almost completely upset. In fact, there is almost nothing left of its internal theater. However, it is very fascinating to visit the museums housed inside it namely: the archaeological museum, the costume museum and a art gallery . Inside the archaeological museum you can admire female statues, the heads of Eros, Zeus, Silenus and Aphrodite as well as a series of bronze statues. While in the section dedicated to frescoes you can look at works by contemporary painters from the 19th century.

In addition to the historic buildings, the center of Vasto is also famous for its churches and religious palaces. Among these stands out the Monumental Complex of Santa Lucia, which is located in the Vallone L'Angrella. The complex is dedicated to Santa Maria in Valle and the first available sources state that it dates back to 1276. The complex consisted of a church, rooms and a well. It was rebuilt and expanded in 1566 after a fire occurred by the Turkish hand.

To remain on a religious theme, of great interest is the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua with annexes ruins of the Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi located in Via Adriatica. The complex is thought to have been built before 1334 and, currently, it has certainly lost many of its original features. For example, some vestiges of the walls of the cellar came to us from the early Christian church. Today's church has been recently repainted and preserves a wooden crucifix by Giacomo Colombo.

Vasto is also famous for the delicacies of its cuisine, among which the brodetto alla vastese and the pallotte stand out hunts and where. The first dates back to popular tradition and consists of foods coming not only from the sea but also from the land: fresh fish and basil, garlic, parsley and tomato. It is enjoyed in a terracotta pan that is thought to give the dish a very special flavor. The second, pallotte cace and where it consists of cheese, eggs, stale bread and parsley. The bullets are fried before being cooked in the sauce. The strong point of the city is its marine hamlet. There are about 320,000 tourists who choose the sea of Vasto for their holidays.

For many years, the city of Vasto has won the Blue Flag that attests to the purity of its waters but also of the beaches and of the services it is able to offer to bathers. One of the most beautiful places in the area is Punta Aderci which is a regional nature reserve. The reserve was established in 1998 and has 285 hectares. The intent was to preserve the rocky coast and is today the privileged destination for those who want to watch birds and practice diving.

The preferred beaches for those who want to walk are those of Punta Penna and Marina beach. The most adventurous can lead a beautiful nature trail starting from the beach of Mottagrossa until reaching the southern area of Vasto, which is protected and characterized by dunes. During the journey you can be kidnapped by breathtaking, colorful views. The predominant colors are the yellow of the sand, the blue of the sea and the green of the vegetation.

In Vasto you can relax but also practice many sports such as hiking but also cycling. The bike path has been active for quite a long time in the city. In the future, however, Vasto will be able to host even those who love to practice cycling tourism thanks to its Adriatic Cycle Path that is being completed. The cycling route will have to connect all the seaside resorts of the Adriatic to ensure that tourism becomes environmentally friendly and viable throughout the year.

Those who love fun will be happy to read that Vasto is home to the largest water park in the central south that takes the name of Aqualand del Vasto. There you can jump from very high slides and let yourself be carried away by attractions such as Kamikaze or parallel slides.

Nightlife lovers will be able to become frequent visitors of the Baja Village disco, the most important in all of Abruzzo.