Italy
San Vito Chietino has about 5200 inhabitants. It rises on a promontory that dominates the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. Flowering orange and olive trees grow on charming hills dotted with small white houses and characteristic gardens.
The history of the city is very old. The old port called Gualdo, located at the mouth of the Feltrino River, at the foot of San Vito Castle, was very active during the Frentana period. It declined in the aftermath of Roman rule before being rebuilt. This gave rise to fierce competition between San Vito and the neighbouring city of Ortona, with the challenge of controlling maritime trade. The church of “San Vito in portulo” was built on the hills overlooking the port in the 11th century.
While strolling around the city, you can admire beautiful buildings overlooking the main street and sheltering cafés and shops, the church of the martyr of San Vito, protector of the city, built at the beginning of the 19th century and which shelters magnificent baptismal font or the church of “San Francesco da Paola” and its gilded wooden bust. The main street leads to the Marconi lookout, which, built on the highest part of the promontory, dominates the entire coast and valley.
The coast of San Vito is made up of small headlands, beaches and pontoons on which rise the “Trabocchi”, old and very characteristic fishing huts.
The main activities of this region are tourism thanks to the natural resources that the landscape and agriculture offer for oil production and fishing.
San Vito is one of the most prestigious cities on the Adriatic coast for its cuisine based on fish and seafood.
San Vito Chietino organised the Eurofestival in 1997 and 2006.