On February 22, 1956, Vasto was shaken by a catastrophic event that left a lasting mark on its history. A massive landslide sent Via Adriatica and the first row of houses overlooking it tumbling into the sea, sweeping away a significant portion of the historic city and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 families.
Although it initially remained standing, the grand Collegiate Church of San Pietro suffered such severe structural damage that, after years of debate, it was ultimately deemed unsalvageable and demolished.
The landslide struck suddenly at around 10:45 AM on a Sunday morning, but fortunately, there were no casualties. The affected buildings had already been evacuated, as the ground movement had begun the previous year. Moreover, it was well known that the area was at high risk due to an underground aquifer that had gradually eroded the limestone foundation beneath the city. Vasto’s eastern slope, particularly the southern section, had already experienced a devastating landslide in 1816, followed by smaller ones in 1942. This had prompted reinforcement work on the Via Adriatica embankment toward the end of World War II.
Unfortunately, the winter of 1956 was the coldest and snowiest of the century. After weeks of heavy snowfall, a sudden rise in temperatures, combined with rain that rapidly melted the accumulated snow, led to excessive water seeping into the ground. This infiltration caused the already fragile rock face to collapse.
The psychological impact on the local population was profound, made even worse by the demolition of San Pietro. Nearly seventy years later, there is still debate over whether tearing down the church was truly necessary.
The disaster made national headlines, sparking a wave of solidarity that quickly raised funds for those displaced. Even the exiled former King of Italy, Umberto II, who had visited Vasto in 1926 for the inauguration of Piazza Gabriele Rossetti, contributed. He sent his Minister of the Royal Household, Falcone Lucifero, to the city with emergency aid for the population.
Despite the material destruction and emotional toll, the 1956 landslide also led to some unexpected benefits. The reorganization of Via Adriatica, with the newly formed slope and the introduction of fresh vegetation, created Vasto’s second city park after the Villa Comunale. Additionally, the demolition of medieval structures, including the Convent of San Francesco, paved the way for the rediscovery of important Roman ruins, such as the ancient thermal baths.
