Maleducheited/Sandbox
Stato	Italy
Regione	Apulia
Superficie	2.000 km²
Sito del turismo
Sito istituzionale

Gargano is a sub-region of Apulia.

Understand

Gargano, also known as the Spur of Italy, is an area that forms the so-called heel of the Italian boot. It is completely surrounded by the Adriatic Sea and is located near the province of Foggia. Gargano is the main tourist place in Puglia along with Salento. It also includes an important National Park.

The term "Gargano" comes from the ancient Greek "Gargaros" which means "mountain of stone". The Gargano has been at the center of an evolutionary and cultural process among the most fruitful in Western Europe: Grotta Paglicci, located in Rignano Garganico, represents in particular a cornerstone for the study of Paleolithic civilization in Europe for the variety of archaeological layers. During the Middle Ages, the connection between Benevento and Gargano remained one of the main constants and favored the religious and economic development of the Gargano centers. The reconquest of the Gargano by the Byzantine Empire between the ninth and tenth centuries encouraged the rise of a true rock civilization, witnessed by the birth of many villages scattered and evident in the historic centers of Peschici, Vico del Gargano and Monte Sant'Angelo. With the Swabians Manfredi, in the Gargano, built in 1256 a real city, Manfredonia: the massacres are still alive in memory in 1620, when this city was occupied by the Turks and burned down. Very serious were the damages caused by the Gargano earthquake of 1646, with loss of thousands of lives. In the aftermath of the Second World War, life began to manifest forms of life responding to a more modern and civilized society. At the same time, however, the economy of some towns, especially Rodi Garganico suffered a major collapse due to the Cold War that reduced to zero the intense and centuries-old trade relations that linked the town to Dalmatia.

Areas and tourist destinations

Tremiti Islands

Tremiti Islands are an archipelago of the Adriatic Sea, located 12 nautical miles north of the Gargano promontory. The archipelago consists of the islands of: Saint Domino, larger, from the beautiful coast, on which are located the main tourist facilities thanks to the presence of the only sandy beach of the archipelago Saint Nicholas, on which resides most of the population and are located the main monuments of the archipelago Capraia (also called Caprara or Capperaia), uninhabited. Pianosa, a rocky plateau also completely uninhabited and about twenty kilometers from the other islands.

Old town of Vieste

The old town of Vieste is very old and valuable, full of buildings in light stone and eroded by the sea breeze. The city is nicknamed the Pearl of Gargano and is part of the famous Gargano National Park. Vieste is also considered a bathing town, as it has beautiful beaches. Its old part especially bewitches and amazes with its beauty of other times.

Boat tour to the sea caves

The sea caves of Vieste are a unique attraction, which you can access only with the boat. Some motorships organize excursions, so as to allow tourists to admire in their maximum splendor the famous caves. The shades of clear water are wonderful and the play of light and shadow that are created by the openings in the rocks are unmissable.

Old town of Peschici

Peschici is a town worth visiting, especially for the preciousness of its historic center. Unlike Vieste, Peschici is a town of only 4000 inhabitants and therefore less frequented. It is part of the Mountain Community of Gargano, but despite this it is a famous bathing area, rich in places of tourism and beaches equipped.

Arch of San Felice

The Arch of San Felice is a natural arch carved into the rock by natural elements and is located near Vieste. The arch opens the so-called Bay of San Felice, a promontory full of greenery, surrounded by a clear and wonderful sea. The view is really impressive and it is absolutely worth visiting.

Umbra Forest

The Umbra Forest is located within the Gargano National Park, one of the most beautiful places in Italy, rich in natural habitats and a large selection of landscapes. Within the Park you can find some villages, many lakes and bizarre rock formations, as well as beautiful beaches. The Umbrian Forest in particular is a very old forest, dating back hundreds of millions of years ago. The forest is very dense and barely is crossed by the sun rays, resulting very impressive.

Vignanotica beach

Vignanotica beach follows the provincial road that arrives to Vieste. The suggestive panorama is given by the presence of calcareous cliffs of a shining white overlooking the sea. In the small coves on the sides of the stacks you can find both free and equipped beaches. From the shore the water is high and suitable for couples of adults, more than for families with children.

Trabucco di San Lorenzo

The trabucco of Baia San Lorenzo, near Vieste is an ancient example of fishing machine, completely renovated. The structure supported tight mesh fishing nets, which trapped the fish and facilitated coastal fishing. Today the trebuchets are no longer used for fishing, but they remain a very strong symbol in the local tradition.

Religious architecture

Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo

The Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 and is located in Monte Sant Angelo, in the province of Foggia. From a religious point of view, this shrine should be considered as a minor basilica. The complex is very old and charming, built on several levels and includes a cave, from which you can access the crypts. The sanctuary boasts some works by Sansovino and has received European awards.

Abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano

The abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano and its hermitages are part of the landscape of Gargano. Protected by the FAI, the abbey itself seems to be part of the rock on which it was built. The main complex is surrounded by numerous hermitages, once used as places of reflection, so inaccessible that they can be reached only with the help of ropes.

Centri urbani

• Mattinata
• Monte Sant'Angelo
• Peschici
• Rodi Garganico
• San Giovanni Rotondo
• Vieste
• Pugnochiuso