he development and architecture of Vasto are the result not of small local events, but of epoch-making occurrences such as its entry into the Holy Roman Empire in 802, the Swabian troops’ conquest of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1194, the advent of the Caldora lordship in 1422, the arrival of the Austrians in 1713, its inclusion in the Bourbon period in 1734, and its active participation in the uprisings of 1799 and 1821.
What the stones of Vasto and the biographies of its people tell us is that Vasto has always been a borderland. Although it now appears comfortably at the center of the nation on maps, its history is that of a place of conquest, where countless dominations have followed one another, each leaving traces in the local culture, especially in its material heritage.
In Vasto, one can admire North African-style mosaics, altarpieces of Albanian origin, take part in centuries-old Croatian traditions, and walk through streets named after Austrian notables or Spanish marquises—all in a city rebuilt by the Lombards on Roman remains and dedicated to a Frankish paladin from Charlemagne’s court.
The pleasure of visiting historic sites is closely connected to understanding how these places relate to events that, in some way, are linked to our own identity. This applies both to those born in Vasto and to those who, even coming from distant lands, share even a part of our history.
