A monument to the 20th century
About a kilometer from the beginning of the Gulf of Vasto, a pier extends about sixty meters into the waters of the Adriatic Sea. To access it, you climb a ramp from the beach, reaching a height of about two meters above sea level, and at its end, it widens into a platform where you can leisurely admire the sea.
The pier, constructed in 1998 with reinforced concrete, is connected by a walkway to the building that currently houses the Nautical Club, concealing it from view along the promenade. Despite this, it is not equipped for boat mooring and appears as an architectural structure without practical use.
In reality, the current pier was built to replace the historic one, made of wood and iron, which was demolished in 1996 and was much beloved by the people of Vasto, who considered it a symbol of their beach. It was constructed about a century earlier as a dock for cargo and fishing vessels that used the deeper Gulf of Vasto, which was a natural harbor at the time. Its location, near the Fosso Marino stream, was likely determined by the activities present in the Marina district at the beginning of the century, particularly the brick kiln located about three hundred meters inland from the beach. In the area, there were also buildings for the Vasto customs office, testifying to the commercial role of the small infrastructure.
Later, in 1948, the fish market, now the Nautical Club, was built. The vessels, at that time rowed or sailed, docked at the pier and unloaded their catch just a few meters from where it was sold. In the following years, the industrial port at Punta Penna was built, and the fishing fleet was gradually motorized and moved to the new location.
The pier remained in the middle of the sea, without any use, and began to rust, leading to restricted access for years. When it was dismantled, the municipality of Vasto decided to rebuild it because its presence had become part of the memories of the people of Vasto and the imagery each of them carries.
