What to see in Vieste, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest of the ancient village, in addition to the very interesting sea caves.
Tourist information
The ancient village of Vieste, perched on a rocky point, is of medieval origin, it houses the Church of San Francesco and the Cathedral.
The modern part of the town is slightly lower, extended between Punta San Francesco and Punta Santa Croce, where the newer districts and the port are located.
On the rock of Sant 'Eufemia, which stands isolated in front of Punta Croce, there is the Vieste lighthouse, an important reference for sailors.
The medieval center, on the south-east facing side, overlooks the sea from the top of the steep rocky walls and is characterized by white houses, often with small terraces that line up narrow alleys connected by arches and stairways.
The ancient town slopes north to the defense tower, while on the top of the promontory stands the castle built by Federico II in 1240 and subsequently remodeled.
Below the high rocky wall on which the Castle is located, there is the beach of the same name, known as Pizzomunno, named after a 26-meter-high rock, detached from the cliff and shaped by marine erosion, considered the symbol of Vieste.
What see
Departures from the port of Vieste are organized motor boat trips that allow you to visit the beautiful coast that winds south, towards Mattinata.
The high and rocky coast has spectacular caves, ravines, arches, stacks and splendid bays with turquoise waters, dominated by high and white cliffs crowned with pine trees.
The excursion includes entry into some of the most suggestive sea caves on the coast and a swim in one of the most beautiful bays in the Gargano.
The trip, which lasts about 3 hours, is preferable to do it in the morning, when the coast is illuminated directly by sunlight.
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Along the coast you can see some sighting towers of the sixteenth century, typical of the Gargano coast and of the whole coastal strip belonging to the Kingdom of Naples.
These include the Torre Gattarella, the Torre di San Felice, the Torre di Portogreco and the Torre di Pugnochiuso, positioned in such a way as to be able to communicate with each other, to promptly transmit a danger signal in case of attack via sea by pirates.
Another very interesting excursion is the one to the Tremiti islands, made possible by the many trips organized by boat, departing every morning from the port of Vieste and returning in the afternoon.
