Excursions in the Gargano. Vieste and surrounding area
Discovering the Gargano
The great thing about being on holiday in Apulia is having the opportunity to experience the many joys of this wonderful region. The Gattarella Resort is the perfect base for a holiday immersed in the nature of the Gargano, just waiting to be explored. The sea at Vieste offers spectacular coastlines, hidden inlets and spell-binding caves that can only be explored by boat.
Apulia awaits you in the ancient village of Vieste: its waterfront bars and restaurants in the old town are the perfect places to enjoy local life.
The enchanting Gargano, with the forests of the Umbra Forest, Peschici, Monte Sant’Angelo and San Giovanni Rotondo, will stay in your heart forever.
The Umbra Forest
In the heart of the Gargano Park, just a few km from Vieste, there is a unique area where adults and children alike will find themselves truly spellbound by nature. The ancient Umbra Forest, which is home to over 2000 plant species, including the ancient and primaeval beech forests declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site’, is home to 70% of the birds that nest in Italy, as well as being extremely rich in animal species, some of which are very rare. Don’t miss our cycling tours (including on electric bikes), guided treks and sustainable jeep safaris. Enjoy guided tours to points of interest, lunch in the forest and a fantastic day at the lake with lots of fun for the kids, who can feed the animals and have fun at the playground in the woods.
San Giovanni Rotondo
This picturesque medieval village is also a world pilgrimage destination, having hosted one of the most adored saints of all time, the Capuchin friar Padre Pio, for half a century.
Don’t miss:
– the old town full of ancient churches, towers, monuments and palaces, among the passageways and alleys
– the church of Saint Pio, designed by architect Renzo Piano to accommodate up to 6500 worshippers, inside which you can also find the unique bronze cross which lights up the interior with its many reflections, created by artist Arnaldo Pomodoro
– the nearby village of Monte Sant’Angelo, a UNESCO site, with its famous heavenly Basilica located in an underground cave.
Peschici
A charming village perched above the sea with typical small white houses, spectacular panoramic views, workshops of local craftsmen who will happily explain their work to you and small shops where you can sample typical local products. Peschici is known for its old town centre within the medieval walls and the Byzantine Castle, its ancient ‘trabucchi’ (fishing machines) on the water and its gorgeous beaches. It is also famous for its unique position which allows you to enjoy the sun both rising and setting over the sea.
The Gargano caves
Visiting the Sea Caves of Vieste and the Gargano is one of those experiences that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. They are unique places, shaped by the waves of the sea that have opened up splits, rifts and tunnels, dazzling all who visit with their fantastical shapes and the colours of the water enhanced by the sun’s reflections. Set between white cliffs with sheer drops into the sea, small coves with azure waters and green oases, white pebble beaches, they offer unmissable sights and can only be reached by sea.
Gargano by bike
