ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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The history of Vasto travels through a long time span, starting from the Greek-Roman period, passing through the medieval decadence, the noble and Renaissance rebirth, and the prestigious 18th and 19th centuries, where the City proclaimed by concession of Charles III in 1710 acquired the nickname "Atene degli Abruzzi" thanks to its cultural, artistic and literary production, until today.

Ancient age
Legend has it that the city was founded by Diomedes, king of Etolia, who, after the siege of Troy, landed with his people in southern Italy and founded several cities. Histon's ancient name was due to the fact that his promontory from the sea remembered Mount Histone of Corfu.

Greek settlers were induced to settle on site because of industry and wool trade.

Of course, around the 5th century BC. the Frentani settled in the north of Vasto (Punta Penna), founding the center known as Buca, and entering in close contact with the populations of Sanniti and the Greek colonies of South Italy and Sicily (including Syracuse). There are also theories about an ancient inhabited centre that has been broken down by bradisism off the current Faro, known as "Aspra", whose existence lies between legends and testimonies of fishermen and underwater archaeologists.

Later, after 305 BC, the Roman influence built various buildings in part still visible today.
Between the end of the IV and the beginning of the 3rd century BC (after the Social War of 91-98 BC) finally entered the Roman orbit with the status of foederates (allies).

In 91 BC. The people of Histonium, together with all the peoples of Italy, take part in the confederation of the peoples of Italy to obtain the title of municipality. The dictator Fabio Massimo restored the Capitol. The city was devastated by Silla in the fight against Mario and rebuilt and in 117 it was inserted in the province of Sannio.

Afterwards the city lost its importance and decay. The various Roman buildings were plundered during the barbaric invasions, also underwent the struggles that followed until feudal times.

The inhabited center, which had been forming a few kilometers further south, became a Roman town hall and was Latinized by Histon in Histonium, acquiring importance in imperial age.

The examples left by Roman culture are the orthogonal viary plot visible above all in the northern part of the historical center of which are still recognizable the Decumano and the Max Cardine, the Spa, different places of worship, an amphitheatre (under the current Piazza Rossetti), a town wall (in the middle medieval one later), villas and necropolises attes outside the city center.

A vast illustrious Roman era was the thirteenth-year-old Lucio Valerio Pudente, crowned poet in 106 in Campidoglio da Traiano, during the Capitoline Games that took place in Rome, and later held the post of editor of public rents