Un Castello ed un Trabocco

We started our day with a drive into the hills surrounding Vasto to visit a 12th-15th century castle in the town of Roccascalegna.
The views from this medieval fortress were amazing, and the walk up and down a bit challenging,  but well worth it.
As a military fortress, it contained old forms of prisoner torcher and weapons. Quite glad not to have been a guest there back in the day.
From the castle we drove back down to the sea for another incredible seafood lunch, but this time on a fishing platform known as a trabocco. We ran into one fisherman bringing home a freshly caught Moray eel for dinner.
There are several trabocchi along this coast...platforms built among the rocks and out into the sea to allow the fisherman to be where the fish are. Notice the large net on the end which can be raised and lowered. The trabocco has been reinforced to allow for visitors and is much sturdier than those from 50 or 60 years ago.
Anchovies, fish stew, octopus salad, mini clams and more great wine. It would be easy to become a pescatarian if you had access to this kind of seafood.
Home to stroll around Vasco, do some shopping and walk off another "filling" day.

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