Holidays on the Gargano, the spur of Italy

Choosing to spend the holidays on the Gargano, in one of the many villages or in a hotel, is surely the perfect choice for those who want to spend a holiday in the sign of the sea without neglecting contact with nature. The Gargano is one of the most beautiful coastal stretches of Italy and is surrounded by the Gargano National Park and the Umbra Forest, real green lungs of the entire area.

Along the coast are scattered some small, but charming towns: Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste and Manfredonia that alternate with areas of rare beauty such as San Menaio, Pugnochiuso and Mattinata.

The villages and hotels that are located in the area, around the main centers of interest in the area, are many and guarantee a stay up to expectations for all types of travelers: from families with small children to boys looking for fun, up to the older couples.

Tourist facilities with three, four or five stars await you to provide an unforgettable stay.

Lake Varano and Lake Lesina

The Gargano is absolutely not just sea, but also lake, or rather "lakes". The fascination that the Lake of Varano and the Lake of Lesina evoke is proof of this. The development of tourism along the coasts has increased in recent years and today both lake basins have become established realities for those who want to go on holiday on the Gargano.

The area is very popular for mountain bikers and long lakeside walks where you can admire enchanting landscapes, especially at sunset.

During a boat excursion, on the water of Lake Varano it is possible to admire sceneries of rare beauty. Olive trees that surround the shore, caves and springs of fresh water, a crucifix that emerges from the water on the eastern shore of the lake make this place a precious casket that will make the stay in the area unforgettable.

The particularity of the area favors the presence of waterfowl and there are many opportunities to practice birdwatching, the hobby inherent in the observation of birds in the wild.

Rodi Garganico

The first village you meet along the Gargano in the South direction is Rodi Garganico. Today it is an established seaside resort, awarded with the Blue Flag. As an ancient fishing village, it has a port, a true focal point of departures to and from the Tremiti islands, a few miles from the coast.

To the left of the town, extending as far as Lido del Sole, and to the right, as far as San Menaio, there are many long golden sandy beaches overlooking a shallow crystal sea that allows the town to be much appreciated by families with little children.

Peschici

Immediately after Rodi Garganico rises the town of Peschici, which hosts the famous beaches of Cala Lunga and Cala Zaiana. Admiring these golden beaches surrounded by white rocky cliffs is an unforgettable experience.

Peschici is perched on a rocky promontory and enjoys an enviable position and, unlike Rodi Garganico, preserves a historic center of undoubted historical and artistic value. In the evening, away from the summer heat, it is pleasant to take a walk through the streets of the center, where you will be able to wait for artisan shops and small places that will make you breathe a summer and holiday air.

From Peschici, the road that leads to Vieste, the main city of the Gargano, is born. Along the way, you can admire many sighting towers and the famous trabucchi, wooden structures used for fishing along the coast, where today it is easy to enjoy a drink at sunset enjoying a view that is worth seeing at least once in the life: the white rocks take on a pink - orange color and on days where the clear sky is possible to discover the Tremiti islands offshore.

Vieste

After having traveled the beautiful road that connects Peschici to Vieste, you reach the city.

Vieste is the main center of tourism on the Gargano and here is the highest concentration of hotels and tourist villages in the whole area. Today it is the destination of thousands and thousands of tourists from all over the world.

The town is spread over a rocky peninsula that extends into the Adriatic Sea and the historic center, the famous Corso Lorenzo Frazzini or Via Cesare Battisti, including the Swabian Aragonese Castle are located behind the Church of San Franceso, located at the end of the promontory.

Worthy of note is certainly the Lighthouse of Vieste, or Sant'Eufemia, located a few meters from a small island and its profile is unmistakable both when viewed from the sea, and when seen from the beach of Vieste.

The beach located south of the town of Vieste is called the Castle beach. Here stands the symbol of the city: the Pizzomunno monolith, a spur of white rock that stands 25 meters high at the beginning of the beach. To it, are linked some legends, made famous by the song of Max Gazzè.

Because of its location, Vieste is a very windy city and offers many possibilities for those who want to practice sports such as sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Continuing to travel to the south, towards Manfredonia, there are several enchanting places of extreme tourist interest: Pugnochiuso, the Baia delle Zagare with the famous faraglioni become the symbol of Gargano, and Mattinata.