Vasto, CH, Ítalía
Located directly in the pedestrian only part of the Historical center in Vasto town, in a quiet residential piazza, only a minutes walk from the shops, bars, restaurants and only 15 minutes (down steps) from the nearest beach.
Vasto is on the Adriatic coast of the Chieti region of Abruzzo and is an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are many national parks and nature reserves, with caves and grottoes nearby, both inland and by the sea, and the Appenine mountains are only 1 h 15 mins by car should you wish to explore further afield and drive up to the Maiella mountain. Aqualand water park (15 minutes by bus)is one of the biggest in the region and has many fun slides and amusements for children.
The closest beach is pebble and rock and ideal for snorkeling (only 15 minutes walk down steps) It is usually very quiet and you can have the whole beach to yourself! The popular Blue Flag sandy Marina beach is gently shelving and ideal for children. Here you can find all amenities such as sunbeds, umbrellas, toilet and shower facilities, restaurants, snackbars, gelateria, motor boat hire and pedalo hire. It is 20 minutes walk or regular bus service in 5 minutes.
There really is no need for a car here as everything you could want is on your doorstep for either a weekend city break or for 2 weeks on the beach!
April and May are beautiful, with many days in the 70's ( low 20's) and the flowers and plants are blooming.
June is my favourite month with warm sea and deserted beaches.
July and August are the hottest months, it is a great time to visit for the beaches and the sea, where the sea temperature rises to 80 degrees (26) and the activities that the town arrange for the visiting Romans, such as jazz in the park, rock bands in the piazza, carnival, local pageant, and wine tastings etc, most of which are free to attend.
September is quiet when all the Romans have left, but the summer is by no means over, and the beaches are once again deserted and quiet, but with high temperatures and perfect for a peaceful beach holiday. The end of September celebrates the towns Patron Saint where the town is full to bursting with celebrations, parades, street markets and performers, concert bands and rock concerts all ending in a fantastic firework display!
October is late summer here, and you can still expect weather similar to that in May if not warmer. The town is quiet and peaceful and more like the 'real' Italy once more.
November is quiet and cool, but December is a fantastic time to visit as the town is bedecked with lights and carol concerts are held in the piazzas and churches along with wine tasting and many other wonderful Christmas events. It is a magical time.
Vasto town is built on the Roman ruins of Histonium, and is a Medieval town with great charm and character. There is plenty to see and do in the town itself, churches and cathedrals, the Roman baths with mosaics, a Medieval Castle, the lovely park with it's large duck pond and fountain and the Palace.There is also a running track, a tennis club, and indoor swimming pool and fitness club with gym, all within a few minutes walk of the house.
If you are a foodie, then you will be in heaven in Vasto! Our local speciality is Brodetto alla Vastese, which is a fish stew, consisting of various types of locally caught fresh fish, prawns, langoustines, mussels, clams all cooked in local olive oil, garlic and tomato. Fresh fish is a speciality of Vasto as it has always been an important fishing port and the locally caught fresh fish is the best you will ever have! Another local fish dish is Seabass baked in the oven on a bed of rosemary potatoes. And why not try the once ina lifetime chance to have a meal on an authentic Trabocco fishing house made of wood and built out over the sea? There is something very magical about eating fresh fish with the waves lapping below your feet, and the best part is that you can walk here from our casa! If you are not a fish lover, there is always porchetta - whole roasted suckling pig stuffed with rosemary, herbs and almonds or try a tagliata - sliced steak with cherry tomatoes, rocket and parmesan cheese. Don't forget to order a glass of local Pecorino or Trebbiano white wines to go with your fish, or a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo red to go with your steak! You can even visit the local vineyard here in Vasto for the afternoon for a wine tasting and a spot of lunch of local speciality cured meats and cheeses.
On a Saturday morning there is a local produce market selling cheese, cured meats and organic fresh fruit and vegetables from the local farms. It is full of local characters and a great photo opportunity. There is also another Saturday market selling a variety of goods including leather bags and belts, clothes and shoes.
There are plenty of pavement cafes and bars and restaurants to while away the days in, along with the many high class boutiques to window shop in, including Burberry, Gucci Jewellery, Marella, MaxMara and of course a huge array of beautiful shoe shops!
There are museums, art galleries, a costume museum, archaeological gardens in the Palazzo. A large portion of the town is pedestrian only and therefore safe and quiet. A favourite pastime of the Vastese is the passegiata or evening stroll, where everybody dresses in their finest and strolls around the town chatting and stopping for aperativo with friends.
Although Vasto is little known in Europe, it is an Italian secret, and a favourite summer destination of the wealthy Romans, who have been coming here for years, many having second homes here. It offers plenty to do for a long weekend or with the added bonus of the beach, a fortnights holiday.
Cultural events occur throughout the year, with festivals of music, classical and rock concerts, Jazz in the park, film festival and food festivals, along with historical pageantry dating back to the 17th century. The local saints day of San Michele is a festa held on the last weekend in September and is a massive celebration with bands, music, market stalls all ending the the biggest and best firework display you have ever seen! Almost all of these are free to attend or watch.
You can hire a car in Vasto if you wish to explore further afield, including the nature reserves, the Majaletta mountain park and the caves and grottoes. There are plenty of nearby antico borgi (old hill towns) to explore nearby as well as miles of golden beaches.
The Cavellone caves are a fantastic day out in the summer, and a break from the heat in July or August. The view from the cable car over the mountains is not to be missed.
The Tremiti Islands are reachable by ferry (50 mins) which goes daily from Termoli and Vasto port in the summer. Here you can sit on the beach or hire a boat and go snorkeling or diving in the crystal clear water. Rome is less than 3 hours away, and can be reached by air-conditioned coach from Vasto bus station should you wish to have a day trip or over night stay there.
Vasto is only 50 minutes by car from Pescara Abruzzo airport. You can hire a car at the airport or a taxi, or if required I can arrange a car to meet you for a fee of €90 payable directly to the driver. A taxi from the airport will cost considerably more.
There is parking 2 minutes walk from the casa, either free street parking, or a multi-story car park or two other paying car parks. I provide a parking map to my guests prior to arrival.
All bed linen, bathroom towels are provided and changed once a week.
A security deposit of €100 is payable on arrival and will be returned on departure (less any breakages)
We also provide a welcome pack of tea, coffee, milk, water and wine.
The whole house is for rent and can sleep 4. It is suitable for a couple or for a family of 4.
