Vasto is a hilltop town on the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo, perched above a long stretch of sandy beach and a small but pretty marina. The old town up top has a medieval castle, a cathedral, and narrow streets with views out over the sea — it feels a world away from the beach resort below.
The main draw is the coastline. Vasto Marina has a broad sandy beach popular with Italian families in summer, while the rocky coves and trabocchi (traditional wooden fishing platforms on stilts) along the coast south toward San Salvo are worth exploring. The town is also a good base for the wild interior of Abruzzo, with the Majella and Gran Sasso national parks within reach.