Monte Gargano

It is a mountain in Apulia, forming the backbone of the “Promontorio del Gargano” on the Adriatic Sea. Most of the upland area is now a National Park, Parco Nazionale del Gargano, opened in 1995. It is part of the Province of Foggia. Monte Gargano is the site of the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the Archangel Michael, Monte Sant’Angelo. Gargano is a Peninsula partly mountainous and partly covered by the remains of an ancient forest, Foresta Umbra. In the north of Gargano there are two major salt lakes Lesina and Varano. Lesina, on the shores of lake Lesina, is a maritime village known for the production of (female) eels. The site, peopled since the Neolithic era, is extremely fascinating: a narrow strip of land covered with sandy dunes and little woods, separating the lake from the sea, which creeps into its waters through three canals. Thanks to the salinity of its waters, the eels of Lesina lake are appreciated everywhere.

Foresta Umbra

The Gargano National Park, with its 120,000 hectares of lagoons, mountains and sandy beeches, marine reserves, villages and forests, is one of the most beautiful areas in Italy, with its natural wealth being enhanced by centuries of history. Foresta Umbra stretches right across the centre of the Gargano massif : 11,000 hectares of pines, oaks and beeches, hiding a rich variety of wildlife.
If you are interested in mushrooms, you will be happy to know that several varieties of mushrooms grow in this area!

Trabucchi

Trabucchi, truly gigantic wooden structures, bear witness to the ancient Gargano sea-faring tradition and are fruit of the cleverness of the fishermen of the time. These ancient structures are still working today, and are characterized by a system of stakes driven into the rock and ropes supporting a large fishnet, lowered into the water. Trabucchi witness the man’s toil in guaranteeing conditions of safe fishing which are capable of withstanding the adverse weather conditions at sea.
Every year, in June, a day is devoted to the celebration of Trabucchi.
For more information on Gargano, its protected area and points of interest, please visit the web links in the last page of this brochure.

How to get there

By car

• Highways A14 Bologna Taranto - exit “Poggio Imperiale” if you come from the North - exit “Foggia” if you come from the South.

By trains

• Trains from Roma Termini and Milano Centrale to Foggia.
  For further information, please visit the following webpage: www.trenitalia.it