Gargano and Tremiti Islands

<< Apulia

Gargano is a mountainous promontory located along the coast of Apulia in the Province of Foggia. The area is a popular tourist destination, known for its many beautiful beaches, seaside resorts, and various historic and religious sites among the mountains. Off the northern coast of Gargano is the small archipelago of the Tremiti Islands.

Vieste

Vieste is a town located at the eastern edge of Gargano, and the most popular seaside resort in this area. Vieste developed as a small port in the Late Middle Ages, and now it is a tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches and old town.

Vieste Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Vieste Cathedral (Duomo di Vieste) is the main church of the city, erected in the 11th century and located in the middle of the old town. Originally built in Apulian Romanesque style, it was later reworked with the addition of Baroque elements. Inside, it houses various artworks.

Malacological Museum

The Malacological Museum (Museo Malacologico) is peculiar museum located along the seafront of Vieste. The museum houses a unique collection of thousands of seashells from all over the world.

Beaches of Vieste

Vieste is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches. Just south of the old town of Vieste is a long beach that streches for kilometers along the Adriatic coast. At the start of this beach is Pizzomunno, a tall white rock that is considered the symbol of the city. To the west of the old town is instead the Beach of San Lorenzo (Spiaggia di San Lorenzo).

Peschici

Peschici is a seaside resort located along the northern coast of Gargano. The town is located on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea, and it is known for its beautiful beaches, which make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

Peschici Castle

The Peschici Castle is a medieval castle located on top of the rocky cliffs of the town, overlooking the sea. Built around the 10th century by the Byzantines, it was later destroyed and rebuilt by the Venetians in the the 13th century. Now restored, it can be visited and houses a collection of instruments used for torture.

Rodi Garganico

Rodi Garganico is a small town located on a promontory along the northern coast of Gargano. Historically known for the production of agrumes, now it is a popular seaside resort thanks to its beautiful beaches.

Beaches of Rodi Garganico

Rodi Garganico features two beautiful sandy beaches located at the two sides of the promontory on which the town sits. To the west is the long and narrow Spiaggia di Ponente, while to the east is the large but short Spiaggia di Levante.

Cagnano Varano

Cagnano Varano is a town located on a hill at the foot of the mountains of Gargano, near the southern shore of Lake Varano. A town of ancient origins, now it is best known for the nearby lake.

Lake Varano

Lake Varano (Lago di Varano) is a coastal lake located near the northern coast of Gargano, and the largest lake in Southern Italy. The lake was formed in the Middle Ages by marine currents that expanded what was previously a gulf. The lake is divided from the Adriatic Sea by a narrow strip of land, which houses a nature reserve and a long beach.

Cave of San Michele

The Cave of San Michele (Grotta di San Michele) is a cave and religious site located west of Cagnano Varano. The natural cave was inhabited in prehistoric times, and was turned into a church in the Middle Ages. The church inside the cave features medieval altars and other historic religious artworks.

Lesina

Lesina is a small town located on the shores of a coastal lake at the northwestern edge of Gargano. A small fishing center throughout its history, it is now a tourist destination thanks to its position.

Lake Lesina

Lake Lesina (Lago di Lesina) is a coastal lake located at the northwestern edge of Gargano. The long and narrow lake is the second largest of Southern Italy, after Lake Varano. The lake is very shallow and it is separated from the Adriatic sea by a narrow strip of land that also features a long beach. A small naturalistic museum in Lesina is dedicated to the environment of the lake.

San Giovanni Rotondo

San Giovanni Rotondo is a town located among the mountains of Gargano. It is best known for having been the home of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina for most of his life, and hosts important religious sites.

✪ Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Santuario di San Pio da Pietrelcina) is a large religious site in San Giovanni Rotondo, completed in 2004 and designed by architect Renzo Piano. The sanctuary features a modern structure and numerous decorations, while a crypt inside the church houses the body of the saint. The sanctuary is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Italy.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie) is a historic church and convent in San Giovanni Rotondo. Built between the 16th and 17th century, it is known for being the site where Saint Pio of Pietrelcina lived from 1916 until his death in 1968. The complex was expanded during the 20th century with the construction of another church, and it is now a site of pilgrimage.

Monte Sant’Angelo

Monte Sant’Angelo is a town located among the mountains of southern Gargano. A site of pilgrimage since the Early Middle Ages, the town only developed around the 11th century. Now it is a tourist destination known for its important religious sites.

✪ Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo

According to legend, in the year 490 the archangel Micheal appeared in a cave in modern-day Monte Sant’Angelo. Soon afterwards, a church was erected on this site. The Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo (Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo) evolved over time with the addition of various structures, most notably by the Lombards in the Early Middle Ages. Later additions include various Romanesque elements, including the bell tower. The sanctuary is to this day a popular site of pilgrimage, and it is has been inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The complex also features a museum with historic religious artworks and archaeological findings unearthed here.

Baptistery of San Giovanni in Tumba

Also known as: Tomb of Rothari (Tomba di Rotari)

The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Tumba (Battistero di San Giovanni in Tumba) is a 12th-century baptistery in Monte Sant’Angelo. Once part of a now-demolished church, it features various medieval decorations. The structure is also known as Tomb of Rothari (Tomba di Rotari), because it was once believed to the be the mausoleum of the Lombard king.

Monte Sant’Angelo Castle

The Monte Sant’Angelo Castle is a medieval castle located near the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo in Monte Sant’Angelo. Initially built by the Normans in the 9th century, it was later expanded and reworked a few times. The structure is still mostly preserved and it can be visited.

Pulsano Abbey

The Pulsano Abbey (Abbazia di Pulsano) is a historic abbey located among the hills southwest of Monte Sant’Angelo. Founded in the 6th century, it was later destroyed and rebuilt, and houses various medieval artworks.

Manfredonia

Manfredonia is a city located on the coast south of the mountains of Gargano, and the largest center in this area. Once the site of the flourishing Greek colony of Sipontum, this town was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in the 13th century. The modern Manfredonia was founded in 1256 by Manfred, King of Sicily. The town grew rapidly but it was once again destroyed in 1620, after being sacked by the Turks. After being rebuilt, it remained a small town until it developed as an industrial center in the 20th century.

Manfredonia Castle

The Manfredonia Castle is a large castle erected in the city in the 13th century, when the current town was founded. The castle was later expanded and turned into a prison. Now restored, it is very well preserved and hosts the National Archaeological Museum of Manfredonia (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Manfredonia). This museum houses numerous archaeological findings unearthed from the ruins of Sipontum and other sites in Gargano.

Manfredonia Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Lorenzo Maiorano (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo Maiorano)

The Manfredonia Cathedral (Cattedrale di Manfredonia) is a 13th-century church located in the center of the city. The original structure was destroyed when the city was sacked in 1620, but it was later rebuilt, while the decorated facade dates from the 1960s. Inside, the church houses some historic artworks.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto is a Romanesque church erected in the 12th century in what was once the town of Siponto. The basilica features various medieval artworks and decorations, and includes an older church underneath the main one. The structure sits inside the Basilicas of Siponto Archaeological Park (Parco Archeologico Basiliche di Siponto), which also includes some other ruins of the ancient town.

Abbey of San Leonardo in Lama Volara

The Abbey of San Leonardo in Lama Volara (Abbazia di San Leonardo in Lama Volara) is a medieval abbey located in the countryside southwest of Manfredonia. Built around the 12th century, it was once the main center of the Teutonic Order in Apulia. The structure features an elaborate Romanesque portal, and various other medieval decorations and artworks.

Tremiti Islands

The Tremiti Islands (Isole Tremiti) is a small archipelago of five islands located off the northern coast of Gargano. Mostly used as a prison since ancient times, the islands also became known for hosting an important religious site. Now they are a popular tourist destination, known for their clear waters.

San Nicola Island

San Nicola Island (Isola di San Nicola) is one of the Tremiti Islands and the administrative center of the archipelago. Inhabited since ancient times, its main landmark is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare (Santuario di Santa Maria a Mare). This church was founded as a monastery in the 11th century, and was for centuries an important religious site. After a long period of decline, the abbey was suppressed in 1783. The church still features various decorations and artworks, but it is partially ruined.

San Domino Island

San Domino Island (Isola di San Domino) is the largest of the Tremiti Islands. Settled in prehistoric times, it once hosted a monastery, which was later closed, and the island was turned into a penal colony. Now opened to tourists, the island is known for its beautiful environment.