Gargano

Jutting out toward the Adriatic in the northern part of Puglia is the Gargano, the promontory also known as the “Spur of Italy.” What stands out most in this area is the incredible variety of landscapes: forests, mountainous zones, lakes, a coastline lined with white cliffs, long sandy beaches, and villages perched above the sea.Sperone d’Italia”. Ciò che colpisce maggiormente in quest’area è l’immensa varietà dei paesaggi che comprendono foreste, zone montuose, laghi, una costa ricca di bianche scogliere, lunghe spiagge sabbiose e borghi a picco sul mare.

To protect the area, the Gargano National Park was established, featuring a dense network of trails and equipped areas for hiking and trekking. The region is also home to two UNESCO sites: Monte Sant’Angelo and the Foresta Umbra. The latter is one of the most iconic places in the Gargano, a green lung of the park that stretches over about 10,000 hectares at an altitude of 800 meters. In this nature reserve, you’ll find lush vegetation made up mainly of beech and oak trees, along with native wildlife such as roe deer, foxes, badgers, wild boars, owls, and many other species.

Monte Sant’Angelo, on the other hand, is a village located in the southern part of the Gargano and is best known for the Sanctuary of Saint Michael. Don’t be fooled by first impressions when you arrive: by descending a few flights of stairs, you’ll enter one of the most beautiful sacred caves in the world, where the cave ceiling forms the roof of the main nave. Along the sides, you’ll find several altars, including the “Altar of the Footprint,” where a stone is said to bear the imprint of the Archangel’s foot.