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Tremiti Islands
(Molinini Roberta - II anno)
Tremiti Islands are the only Italian archipelago in the Adriatic Sea and are located about 12 miles off the coast of the Gargano, in the north of Puglia.
UNDERSTAND
Also known as Diomedee, the Tremiti Islands represent a small paradise corner that attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to the clear sea, the unspoiled nature, the pleasant climate, the low and sandy coasts and pure air. Tremiti Island is included in the BAI (Borghi Autentici d’Italia) for the enhancement of characteristic Italian village. For their beauty they are also called ‘Pearls of the Adriatic Sea’.
TERRITORY AND TOURISTIC DESTINATIONS
The archipelago consists of five islands:
- San Domingo
- San Nicola
- Capraia, uninhabited island
- Cretaccio
- Pianosa, uninhabited island
San Domingo, the largest Island, is the most beautiful from a landscape and naturalistic point of view. Here, we find the cave of Violets, the cave of Bue Marino ance the cave of Rondinelle.
San Nicola is rich in historic monuments such as towers, fortifications, churches and cloisters. It’s an open-air museum.
Capraia has no trees or buildings, it is only covered with flowers and grass.
Cretaccio, is a natural bridge that connects the two major islands: San Domingo and San Nicola.
Pianosa, constitutes an integral reserve of the Marine Park.
The best time for a dip and a beach holiday in the Tremiti Islands is from May to the end of September, with the exception of August, when they are very crowded.
GET IN
By car
Cars and motorcycles are generally not permitted. San Domingo is the only island where cars and motorcycles are permitted.
By boat
It is possible to reach the Tremiti Islands by sea from Vasto (CH), Termoli (CB), Rodi Gargano (FG), Peschici (FG) and Vieste (FG). In addition, from the port of Termoli and from the airport of Foggia there are active connections all year round. The ferries of the Tremiti Islands take almost an hour to travel.
By helicopter
It is possible also by helicopter from Foggia.
GET AROUND
The whole archipelago is characterised by small inlets and coves, some of which are well known, such as Cala delle Arene, Cala Matano, Cala degli Inglesi, Cala Tamariello and Cala Tonda. To get around, you can use the shuttle service, or you can also rent a boat for excursions or, if you prefer, take long and pleasant walks around the island.
SEE (Malerba Francesca-II anno)
Most of the beaches of the Tremiti are pebbly and the most beautiful places can be reached via steep descents in the Mediterranean scrub: before venturing for a swim, therefore, it is better to always bring sunscreen, rubber shoes, hat and camera with you to steal the most beautiful views. In addition to being the only tourist island in the Tremiti Islands, San Domino is also known as "the island of Lucio Dalla": the great Italian singer-songwriter had a home here and here he composed one of his most famous songs, inspired by the colors from the landscape that is “ com’è profondo il mare”.
Among the beaches not to be missed in San Domino are Cala Matano and Cala dei Benedettini, which can be reached on foot from the pier and are naturally shaded by Aleppo pines (but you will also find sunbeds, umbrellas, bars and restaurants); Caprara boasts pristine coves to be reached by raft: Cala dei Turchi, Cala di Sorrentino and the most beautiful, Cala Pietra del Fucile. All the coves and bays of the Tremiti overlook Caribbean waters ranging from deep green to light blue, dotted with caves and boulders with suggestive names.
-The island of San Domino, steep and jagged, is famous for the coves and caves that dot its coasts and which can be visited by boat. Among these, one of the most enchanting is the Grotta del Bue Marino, named in honor of its most famous inhabitant, the Monk Seal, also called sea calf. It is a natural rock cavity about 70 meters long and up to 14 meters high. Inside there is a small sandy beach and the gaze is captivated by the intense blue of the waters and the inner walls of the cave. The caves are the natural habitat of the Diomedee, the seabirds typical of the Tremiti, with the chirping very similar to the cry of a newborn. It is said that these birds are Diomedes' companions, transformed by Venus to watch over their hero who rests here.
Cala delle Arene is the only sandy beach on the Island of San Domino and all the Tremiti Islands: thanks to its shallow waters and its convenient and very central position, it is perfect for a whole day of sea and sun, even for families with children. There are both free beaches and equipped beaches and on the beach there are bars, small hotels and restaurants with menus based on freshly caught fish. On the side of the beach, the Grotta dell’Arenile is worth a visit, about 10 meters long, which can be reached on foot.
-The sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare rises sheer on the coast of the island of San Nicola. The abbey was founded by the Benedictine monks in 1045, but the legend says that an hermit decided to build this Sanctuary after a dream he had made: in his dreams, the Virgin Mary asked him to build a place of devotion on the island, telling him the burial place of the hero Acheus Diomede. The rich treasures found by the hermit in the tomb, allowed the construction of this hermitage. The interior has remained intact since the days of the monks; in fact there is a cross and a wooden statue of Mary with the Child, both in Byzantine style, and a recently restored precious mosaic floor. Outside there’s a well that is decorated with the symbol of the archipelago: the diomedee bearing a branch of Myrtle.
The Badiali Castle surrounds the Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare: it was built at the behest of Charles of Anjou to protect the island and the Monastery from attacks. This imposing structure is dominated by the Angevin tower which is located next to the only entrance to the castle. The tower of the Knight of the Crucifix dominates the portico, while inside the Cistern of the Loggia della Meridiana there is a 17-meter deep well, from which the monks drew water. The name derives from the fact that there was probably a sundial here.
DO
In addition to swimming and diving in the fantastic Adriatic sea, visits to the sanctuary and the castle and fabulous walks along the coasts of the islands, there are many other activities to do:
-The tour of the Tremiti Islands by boat is the only way to appreciate the coves and caves that cannot be reached in any other way and to swim in transparent waters surrounded by a myriad of fish. The most requested tours are the tour of the island of San Domino, which is rich in coves and caves, and the circumnavigation of all the islands, with stops for swimming in the most beautiful points, in particular off the coast of the island of Capraia where finds a submerged statue of Padre Pio. (Departures are very frequent: there is an excursion every hour from 9 am to 5 pm and you can buy tickets at the points of sale of the various companies on the San Domino pier. Some companies also provide lunch on board with freshly caught fish. A towel, sunscreen, rubber shoes are always recommended to visit the stony coves.)
-The Tremiti Nature Reserve protects the stretches of sea and marine landscapes of the entire Tremiti archipelago: in particular the stretch of sea around Pianosa, which is an integral reserve. The protection of these waters has allowed the maintenance of intact fauna and flora: the waters of the Tremiti are clean and transparent, perfect for both scuba diving and snorkeling with mask and snorkel. You’ll dive into coves and caves with purple and blue interiors and a very fishy sea, full of snappers, lobsters and seahorses, which move undisturbed between gorgonians and black corals. There are more than 50 diving spots on the Tremiti Islands: among the most beautiful are the Scoglio dell’Elefante (San Domino), Punta Secca and Scoglio del Corvo (Caprara). In the Tremiti islands’ sea there are also precious wrecks, just like the Galea Turca (cala dei Benedettini) and “il Lombardo”, a steamship used by Garibaldi for the “Spedizione dei Mille”
FOOD
The cuisine of the Tremiti island is based on seafood, but there are also lots of vegetables and meat dishes. In particular you need to try these five dishes:
-Grilled scampi and lobster: this dish is a must. Those who tried it always define it with just one word: succulent. Of course both the scampi and the lobsters are fresh and let you savor the scent of the sea.
-spaghetti with clams: it’s a well-known dish, especially in the southern maritime area. It’s usually prepared with spaghetti, clams, a little bit of oil, chopped parsley, salt and chili pepper, but there are also variations in which chopped cherry tomatoes are added.
- “pesce fe’jute”: it means literally “fled fish”; it might seem strange, but, despite the name, there is no fish in this dish, in fact it is made of vegetables, tomatoes and dry bread.
-”scescille”: these are patties composed of eggs, cheese and dry bread, dip and cooked then in tomato sauce. It’s a dish made for those who like strong flavors or for people who don’t want to just eat fish during their holiday.
-fish soup: as you can tell by the name, it is composed of the most diffused fishes, shellfishes and mollusks of the island: amberjacks, snappers, rockfishes, sea basses, lobsters, shrimps, mussels and clams.
Of course you need to match these dishes with the renowned wine “Daunia IGT Bianco”.
SLEEP
On the Tremiti islands there are few hotels, some bed and breakfasts and many apartments which are however few to satisfy the request of those who want to spend their summer days on the Tremiti Islands. The search for a hotel, therefore, must start long before the holiday. The best choice you can do is to visit the Tremiti Islands outside the peak season and choose June and September as an alternative.