Vasto Carnival - La Štorie

The Vasto Carnival and the tradition of "La Štorie"

The Vasto Carnival is the event that fills the historic center of Vasto—an elegant town in the province of Chieti overlooking the Adriatic in Abruzzo—with color and joy every February. Organized under the patronage of the Municipality of Vasto, the event transforms Piazza Gabriele Rossetti and the surrounding streets into a large open-air stage, where parades of masks, mascots, street artists, stilt walkers, jugglers, and inflatables for children alternate with music and shows throughout the afternoon.

"La Štorie": the satirical song of Vasto

The most iconic moment of the festival is "La Štorie", an ancient carnival song in the Vasto dialect with roots dating back to the 19th century, when it was improvised and passed down orally by farmers skilled in rhyming and satire. After falling into disuse in the early 1980s, the song was revived in 1995 by Fernando D'Annunzio, at the initiative of Carmine D'Ermilio, who has rewritten the lyrics every year since.

It is performed by the group "Quelli della Cappa", named after the traditional cloaks worn by its members. Through rhyming verses and an ironic tone, "La Štorie" recounts the events of the past year between one Carnival and the next: from major international news and national politics to local issues in Vasto, the province, and the region, with good-natured irreverence toward those in power and their broken promises.

An afternoon of celebration and community

Surrounding this traditional core, the Vasto Carnival offers a rich entertainment program: concerts, cartoon shows, DJ sets, and activities for families and children, creating a participatory atmosphere that engages both young and old. Admission to the events is free.

• Where: Historic center of Vasto, with Piazza Gabriele Rossetti as the main stage (in case of bad weather, shows move indoors, such as to the Teatro Madonna dell'Asilo)
• When: During the Carnival period, between February and early March
• Highlight: "La Štorie" by Fernando D'Annunzio and the "Quelli della Cappa" group

Vasto and the Carnival of Abruzzo

Located on the picturesque Trabocchi Coast, Vasto proudly preserves its cultural roots, and the Carnival is one of the occasions where the community recognizes itself in its own language and traditions. In this sense, "La Štorie" represents a true intangible heritage of the Abruzzo region, capable of uniting popular memory, satire, and a sense of belonging.