The Gargano promontory is a multi faceted reality thanks to the richness of its resources: from unspoilt nature to popular traditions, from archaeology to history and religion, whose origins are lost in the night of time.
Our aim is for the visitor to discover the more unusual aspects of this beautiful biological Island, which allows us to forget our frenetic daily rhythms. When we come into contact with nature, our sensibilities are refined and a sense of peace and wellbeing surrounds us.
HISTORICAL NATURE ITINERARY (THE ORCHIDS OF GARGANO AND THE ABBEY OF SS. TRINITY)
In the spring Gargano offers its visitors the opportuinity to admire the beautiful spontaneous wild orchids of Gargano. Orchids, with their beauty and their scent, are specialists in the art of seduction. The area around Matttinata boasts a huge variety. The beginning of the itenerary will be dedicated to the discovery of the colours and scents of this flower, fragile and ephemeral like all beautiful things.
At the end of the route we shall reach a magical place, the remains of the abbey of SS Trinity. Exploring the remains of this monastery, one gets caught up in the mystery that surrounds the place which is now prey to attacks of vegetation. One could remain staring at the beautiful landscape, in such pristine nature, for the longest time, forgetting the modern world that surrounds us.
- Location: Mattinata
- Walking time: 3 to 4 hours
- Degree of difficulty: medium
- Length of excursion: full day
- Lunch: typical local fare at a working farmhouse or masseria.
NATURAL ARCHEOLOGICAL ITINERARY
The Saracen towers, ancient wall art and mediterranean vegetation….
The trail is in the borderlands between Peschici and Vieste, an area dotted with Aleppo pines and perfumed by Mediterranean scrub bushes.
Along the way we will stop at the shelter of Sfinalicchio, undoubtedly the most articulated example of wall art and etchings currently known in the South of Italy.
Halfway through our route we will stop at donkey farm for a picnic with local seasonal produce.
- Location: Peschici/Vieste
- Length : 3 to 4 hours
- Degree of difficulty: Easy
- Duration of excursion: full day
- Lunch: picnic with seasonal local produce
- We recommend long pants, water and athletic shoes.
NATURAL ITINERARY:
The source of the sfilzi
An authentic natural jewel in the heart of the park of Gargano. Starting from a picnic/rest area adjacent to the road in the locality of Caritate (m. 250) the trail crosses first over an oak wood, and then a forest of splendid beech trees. The Sfilzi nature reserve covers 56 hectares. Within its confines is the only permanent mountain spring in Gargano, characterised by its unique shape and the prescence of the italian newt, Truturus italicus, an amphibian similiar to a lizard.
The reserve is populated by numerous species of animals: roe, wild boar, badger, wild fox and deer and weasel.
- Location: Umbra Forest
- Duration of trail: 4 hours
- Difficulty: medium
- Duration of excursion: Half day
- We recommend long pants, water and athletic shoes.