5 Experiences to do in Vieste, between charm and legend

5 Experiences to do in Vieste, between charm and legend

 

Great excitement for the World Masters Orienteering Championships 2022 organization.

Even the magnificent territory is preparing to welcome the event, like Vieste, the pearl of Gargano, among the 14 other host municipalities. Its extraordinary beauty is rich of history and charm, myths and legends. Let’s find this out together, through five experiences that we recommend you to live during your stay in Puglia.

 

TURN AROUND PIZZOMUNNO

It became the icon of the Apulian town: Pizzomunno is a massive limestone monolith that stands 25 meters high on the beach, dominated by the Castello Svevo. According to popular tradition, if you make a wish and turn around the rocky spur, it will come true.

 

The real legend, however, tells the sad romance between Cristalda and Pizzomunno, which also inspired the Sanremo 2018 song by Max Gazzè (The Cristalda and Pizzomunno legend). A bond opposed by sirens, who petrified the young lover into the white monolith. Even nowadays, every century, the beautiful Cristalda re-emerges from the abyss for just one night to relive her ancient romance with Pizzomunno.

 

FISHING ON A TRABUCCO

Trabucchi are ancient wooden fishing machines standing on the Gargano rocky coasts suspended over the Adriatic Sea. These structures have been invented by fishermen to allow them to fish from the ground, and avoid pirates’ ambushes. These strange architectures have fishing rods protruding towards the sea, with large nets hanging.

In Gargano you can find more than thirty trabucchi; some of these now offer fishing trips, guided by the expert “trabuccolanti” instructors, and savor delicious dishes of the local gastronomic tradition. No-profit Association La Rinascita dei Trabucchi Storici works with the desire to restore and rebuild the Trabucchi in this area, acknowledging their historical and cultural value, as symbols of tradition for both present and future generations.

 

EXPLORE THE SEA CAVES

Gargano has the highest concentration of sea caves, per linear km, in the Mediterranean Area. Hundred centuries of constant modeling by sea and wind erosion on the karst rock, this phenomenon can be seen at the world-famous San Felice arch (known as architello). The Vieste coast has 26 of them, all to be explored with guided boat, canoes tours, or by diving in the beautiful seabed.

 

Their awesome shapes inspired the old fishermen, who named all of them with fantasy names, such as Grotta dei Contrabbandieri, for its double exit to facilitate escapes, Grotta Calda, for the presence of hot springs, or Grotta Due Occhi, which has two openings on the top protected by Aleppo pines. In their proximity, the seawater acquires enchanting shades of color thanks to light reflections filtering between rocks and the Mediterranean scrub. According to legends, the caves represent the sirens’ shelters, where the sinuous figures imprisoned the girls they were jealous of with a bewitching song.

 

TRAVEL THE LOVE PATH

The Love Path, so named for its romantic views, is actually called the Mergoli-Vignanotica Nature Path from the two beaches that it connects, probably the most suggestive in Gargano and Puglia. In particular, the Vignanotica bay, in the Vieste territory, is characterized by sand mixed with gravel and pebbles, with several caves and high limestone cliffs behind.

 

The three km of dirt trekking can be covered in about an hour at 140 meters above sea level and connect Vieste and Mattinata municipalities. Immersed in the thick Mediterranean scrub, you will be inebriated by the wild aromatic plants’ scents with breathtaking views on the cliffs overlooking the sea. The route will take you to see and reach the Mergoli bay, the famous Baia delle Zagare with its two beautiful limestone sea stacks.

 

TASTE CACIOCAVALLO PODOLICO

Podolico is the highest manifestation of caciocavallo, one of the most aromatic aged cheeses in Italy. It’s so-called because it’s produced exclusively with the milk of the precious “Podolica” breed of cattle, raised in the wild.

 

In the Vieste woods, it’s still possible to see herds of Podolico cows, recognizable by their crescent or lyre horns and their gray coat. Grazing in open nature, the animal feeds exclusively on wild herbs and shrubs which give the unique characteristics of meat and milk. In addition to caciocavallo, often tasted on the grill, podolica cow meat is also a Slow Food Presidium of Gargano.

For all the proposals we’re waiting for you on www.viaggiareinpuglia.it/hp/en