Gargano: treasures of the spur of Italy

A land rich of a variety of environmental and natural beauties, with caves and unspoiled forests enclosed in a Natural Park. But also a sacred place with a rich and long history, dedicated to Padre Pio,: from Paleolithic rests to Swabian and Norman castles.

We are in Gargano, in the Foggia province, one of the areas richest in nature and history of the whole South of Italy. Its form is all its own: a hard and wild calcareous promontory projected in the Adrian Sea, rich of marvellous scenaries and of different ecosystems. Its form gave it the name of "spur" of Italy.

We start our itinerary from San Giovanni Rotondo (30 km from Foggia), in a dell among the mountains of Gargano. It is popular for its relationships to Padre Pio, who lived here and here founded his convent. The Norman Federico II built huge walls and the towers all around the village, while among the churches concentrated in its quaint historical centre it's worth a visit to San Giovanni church - also called della Rotonda - from which the village takes its name. Its origins date the IV century B.C. as many tombs of that period proove. Inside the Capuchin Convent is the tomb of Padre Pio, visited by millions of people from all over the world.

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Placed on a rock foreland vertically on the sea, Peschici was first ihabited by Dalmatians in the X century. It recalls Arab casbahs because of its typical white buildings with gray domes called "lampie" on the top but its real beauty is the sea: the marvellous Manacore Bay and its prehistorical cave. In the beautiful S. Maria di Càlena Abbey you may see a wooden late-Romanic statue of the "Madonna with the Child".

The second lays on the coast: founded by Cretans, it shows a beautiful castle in strategic position on the sea and the Byzantine church of San Nicola, important for its bell tower built on three stages and once upon a time sighting tower for coasts defence. Ten kilometers far in the direction of the sea, we visit Ischitella and Rodi Garganico. The first lays on a hill from which you may see the Tremiti islands, here you may see its XVII century castle, the Romanic church of San Eustachio and, just in front of the Convent, a strange tree with roots up at the place of branches.

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Manfredonia is the second town as for citizens (58.000) and its economy bases on fishing, commerce, industry and tourism. Its original plan is chequered, it was founded by Manfredi, natural son of Federico II and Bianca Lancia. Two kilometers far lays Siponto, tourist resort in the green of a pine-wood, where an archeological park has recently been created to testify the ancient origins of the town. Its historical monuments make it an interesting place for cultural itineraries: the massive Swabian-Angioan castle, now hosting the National Museum, shows the ancient magnificence of the city.

Vacanze nel Gargano: Puglia i tesori dello sperone d'Italia

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