Apulia is a famously beautiful part of Italy and if you find a villa in Apulia you will never be in want of things to see and do. You just need to rent a car, hit the road with no particular destination in mind, and then you will quickly find yourself just happening to stumble across all sorts of truly incredible surprises and wonders along the way. However, if you want to head our out with a destination in mind that you can be sure is certain to wow you with its impossible natural beauty, then we highly recommend a visit to Gargano.
Gargano is the name given to an area of Foggia in Apulia that is made up of a series of peaks and highland that projects out into the Adriatic. Much of the upland part of the area is located within the protected Gargano National Park that was founded back in 1991 and some of the peninsula is home to the remains of the Foresta Umbra, an ancient forest that is all that is left in Italy of the oak and beech forest that once covered much of Central Europe. Heading to the coastline, Gargano is also home to some fascinating rock formations and cave systems, pretty bays, charming beaches, and idyllic little towns. All of these different factors ensure that Gargano is, undoubtedly, one of the most picturesque parts of Italy and, thankfully, well-preserved.
Gargano is the name given to an area of Foggia in Apulia that is made up of a series of peaks and highland that projects out into the Adriatic. Much of the upland part of the area is located within the protected Gargano National Park that was founded back in 1991 and some of the peninsula is home to the remains of the Foresta Umbra, an ancient forest that is all that is left in Italy of the oak and beech forest that once covered much of Central Europe. Heading to the coastline, Gargano is also home to some fascinating rock formations and cave systems, pretty bays, charming beaches, and idyllic little towns. All of these different factors ensure that Gargano is, undoubtedly, one of the most picturesque parts of Italy and, thankfully, well-preserved.
While admiring the incredible surroundings, both natural and manmade, in the area and simply exploring Gargano is a very rewarding pursuit, there are lots of particular landmarks, attractions, events, and things to see and do in the area. Here are just five excellent things to do in the Gargano area if you have found a vacation rental in Apulia...
1. Visit the pretty town of Vieste
Vieste is a picture-perfect gem of a town that extends on a striking white-cliff peninsula right out into the glittering azure waters of the Adriatic and is made up of the charming little white houses and church towers of the pretty Old Town. Bursting with character and boasting stunning sea views, this is an ideal place to explore, wander around, grab some lunch, and enjoy a deliciously slow pace of life in the most incredibly lovely surroundings.
1. Visit the pretty town of Vieste
Vieste is a picture-perfect gem of a town that extends on a striking white-cliff peninsula right out into the glittering azure waters of the Adriatic and is made up of the charming little white houses and church towers of the pretty Old Town. Bursting with character and boasting stunning sea views, this is an ideal place to explore, wander around, grab some lunch, and enjoy a deliciously slow pace of life in the most incredibly lovely surroundings.
2. Explore the gorgeous Foresta Umbra
The aforementioned Foresta Umbra is an important artefact of the natural world that once was Europe and is, additionally, a great place to go for hikes and stretch your legs. Located about 30 minutes from Vieste and up in the mountains, it is always a good deal cooler than the surrounding area, making it a perfect escape from the hottest part of the day during summer months. There are lots of trails to follow throughout these majestic woods but be warned that they are not especially well signposted. You can, however, buy a somewhat vague map of the trails in the small information office and museum. With around nine to choose from, with the different trails taking between an hour and several hours and extending over a few kilometers to 8.5km on the longest route (trail four), there is a good bit of variety depending on your interests, energy, and level of fitness. Walking among the towering trees and past the little lake, enjoying the bird song and the peace and quiet, and encountering almost no one makes for an incredibly relaxing experience. If you're up for something more energetic and exciting, meanwhile, there are bike and four-wheel drive tours available through the forest as well. Once you've finished up and have worked up an appetite, you can visit the little restaurant at the beginning of the trails where you can have a full meal or simply buy a snack or drink and make use of their restroom facilities.
The aforementioned Foresta Umbra is an important artefact of the natural world that once was Europe and is, additionally, a great place to go for hikes and stretch your legs. Located about 30 minutes from Vieste and up in the mountains, it is always a good deal cooler than the surrounding area, making it a perfect escape from the hottest part of the day during summer months. There are lots of trails to follow throughout these majestic woods but be warned that they are not especially well signposted. You can, however, buy a somewhat vague map of the trails in the small information office and museum. With around nine to choose from, with the different trails taking between an hour and several hours and extending over a few kilometers to 8.5km on the longest route (trail four), there is a good bit of variety depending on your interests, energy, and level of fitness. Walking among the towering trees and past the little lake, enjoying the bird song and the peace and quiet, and encountering almost no one makes for an incredibly relaxing experience. If you're up for something more energetic and exciting, meanwhile, there are bike and four-wheel drive tours available through the forest as well. Once you've finished up and have worked up an appetite, you can visit the little restaurant at the beginning of the trails where you can have a full meal or simply buy a snack or drink and make use of their restroom facilities.
3. Travel the Tremiti Islands
An archipelago made up of five stunning landmasses, the Tremiti Islands can readily be visited from June to September by ferry (ferrying just people as cars are not allowed on the islands) from Vieste and the town of Peschici or by helicopter from Foggia. Once you get to these gorgeous islands, there are all sorts of pursuits to be enjoyed. Possible activities include: snokelling, scuba-diving, hiking and walking, and boat trips to different grottoes and coves around the islands. A visit to the Tremiti Islands means enjoying the stunning seaside setting of Gargano to the max and being one further step from the real world and into utter escapism and perfect relaxation.
An archipelago made up of five stunning landmasses, the Tremiti Islands can readily be visited from June to September by ferry (ferrying just people as cars are not allowed on the islands) from Vieste and the town of Peschici or by helicopter from Foggia. Once you get to these gorgeous islands, there are all sorts of pursuits to be enjoyed. Possible activities include: snokelling, scuba-diving, hiking and walking, and boat trips to different grottoes and coves around the islands. A visit to the Tremiti Islands means enjoying the stunning seaside setting of Gargano to the max and being one further step from the real world and into utter escapism and perfect relaxation.
4. Head to the beach
Of course, you don't have to even get on a boat at all to enjoy the coastline and her beauties in Gargano. There are plenty of beaches that you can simply drive or walk to in the area. Some of the most notable examples include: Mattinata with its massive sandy beach and impressive centuries-old olive groves and almond trees; Vieste's two long white-sand beaches; Manacore with its incredibly evocative bay; Rodi Garganico with its beaches swathed in the scent of citrus and almonds and panoramic views out to the Tremiti Islands; Peschici's beautiful seafront and excellent facilities; and the Baia delle Zagare (Bay of the Orange Blossoms) with its awe-inspiring sea stacks. In addition, there are endless little coves and gems to be discovered, as well. So, head out with one of these beaches in mind or just hit the road and see what kind of lovely little strand you happen to stumble upon in this gorgeous part of Italy.
Of course, you don't have to even get on a boat at all to enjoy the coastline and her beauties in Gargano. There are plenty of beaches that you can simply drive or walk to in the area. Some of the most notable examples include: Mattinata with its massive sandy beach and impressive centuries-old olive groves and almond trees; Vieste's two long white-sand beaches; Manacore with its incredibly evocative bay; Rodi Garganico with its beaches swathed in the scent of citrus and almonds and panoramic views out to the Tremiti Islands; Peschici's beautiful seafront and excellent facilities; and the Baia delle Zagare (Bay of the Orange Blossoms) with its awe-inspiring sea stacks. In addition, there are endless little coves and gems to be discovered, as well. So, head out with one of these beaches in mind or just hit the road and see what kind of lovely little strand you happen to stumble upon in this gorgeous part of Italy.
5. Discover the salt lake of Lesina
There are lots of breathtaking spots to take in the sunset in Gargano but one of the most beautiful places has to be at Lake Lesina. Located between the Tavoliere delle Puglie Plain and the Gargano Promontory, and separated from the Adriatic Sea by a forest called the Bosco Isola, the lake is connnected to the sea by the three estuaries of Schiapparo, Sant’Andrea, and Acquarotta. To the east of the lake is the Natural Reserve of Lake Lesina, a key part of the National Park of Gargano, that was founded to protect the great natural beauty of this stunning place and repopulate local fauna in 1981. Rich in fish and bird species, it is the type of magical place where you might happen to catch sight of a group of flamingoes silhouetted against pastel skies as the sun sets or a group of cormorants performing elaborate aerial manoeuvres. But even if you don't have such luck, you're sure to be awed by this stunning and unspoiled beauty.
So, if you have been planning a trip to Italy, be sure to consider a villa in Apulia and come and discover this unbelievably beautiful part of the world.
There are lots of breathtaking spots to take in the sunset in Gargano but one of the most beautiful places has to be at Lake Lesina. Located between the Tavoliere delle Puglie Plain and the Gargano Promontory, and separated from the Adriatic Sea by a forest called the Bosco Isola, the lake is connnected to the sea by the three estuaries of Schiapparo, Sant’Andrea, and Acquarotta. To the east of the lake is the Natural Reserve of Lake Lesina, a key part of the National Park of Gargano, that was founded to protect the great natural beauty of this stunning place and repopulate local fauna in 1981. Rich in fish and bird species, it is the type of magical place where you might happen to catch sight of a group of flamingoes silhouetted against pastel skies as the sun sets or a group of cormorants performing elaborate aerial manoeuvres. But even if you don't have such luck, you're sure to be awed by this stunning and unspoiled beauty.
So, if you have been planning a trip to Italy, be sure to consider a villa in Apulia and come and discover this unbelievably beautiful part of the world.
Photo credits
Picture 5: Albus65 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Picture 5: Albus65 / CC BY-SA 4.0