The monument to Gabriele Rossetti stands in the middle of the square named after the poet, Vasto's central square. It is the work of the sculptor Filippo Cifariello and was made in 1926, as part of the town's urban reorganisation; it was unveiled by the Crown Prince Umberto of Savoy. Rossetti, born in Vasto in 1783, was a poet, critic and patriot: for his support of the liberal uprisings of 1820-1821 he had to go into exile and from 1824 lived in London, where he taught Italian language and literature at King's College.
What to see
The monument rests on a stone base and rises vertically like a column, topped by a bronze eagle with outspread wings. In front of the tall base is the statue of the poet, standing, reading a book; behind him is a commemorative inscription. Higher up, four bronze medallions portray his children: Dante Gabriel, poet and Pre-Raphaelite painter, Christina Georgina, poet, William Michael, literary critic and editor of his father's work, and Maria Francesca.
The square around it is elliptical because it occupies the site of the Roman amphitheatre: some remains can be seen under glass at the end of via Cavour, by the Bassano tower. Facing the square are Palazzo Palmieri, built against the Castello Caldoresco, and the church of the Addolorata.
Visiting
The monument is in the open air, in a public square: there are no opening hours or tickets.
Our editors' tip
The pose of the poet with a book in his hand follows the model of the monuments to Dante Alighieri put up after Italian unification, and not by chance: Rossetti was one of the first modern interpreters of Dante's work. On the Loggia Amblingh is the house where he was born, now home to the Rossetti study centre.
