THE "BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY" Food and wine archaeology along the Via Francigena of Apulia.

The experience with the “Francigena Wine Festival” in the promotion of cultural heritage and food and wine, through sustainable and experiential forms of tourism, prompted us to think of new forms of narration of our “beauty.” The Gargano of the “Belle gite” of yesteryear recounted during the eight weekends experienced among the stone landscapes of the Alto Tavere and the lake basins of the lakes of Lesina and Varano up to the historical rural landscapes of the Gargano citrus, encapsulates our idea of a narrative of beauty. A journey, in the company of artists and sculptors, in a synergy between the cultural itinerary of the “Vie Francigene di Puglia” and the recovery of the Touring Club itineraries of the carriage roads of 1926. An innovative system of narration of the territory consistent with experiential tourism that enhances the authenticity and genuineness of the places of typical productions (slow food presidia and PDO and PGI products). Slow itineraries and food and wine archeology workshops represent the key between the legacy of the past, understood as an expression of social innovation of tradition, and the present, understood as the cultural identity of a community. The objective of the “Bella Gita” is to rediscover the cultural identity of Apulian communities, promoting their knowledge and attractiveness of landscape components, competitiveness in national markets, and the development of sustainable tourism and integrated fruition to the valorization of typical productions. The expected results are projected on the participation in the visits during the extraordinary openings and in the food and wine archaeology workshops, coordinated by archaeologist Feliciano Stoico, which represent an innovative way of telling the origins of the products directly on the territory, an interaction between the archaeological heritage and the experiential performances coordinated by Gargano chef Domenico Cilenti. The actions planned along the Itineraries, to discover the territories and agri-food productions, through guided tours to the places of tourist-cultural interest with extraordinary opening and practice workshops of the activities related to the food and wine sector, will take place in the eight the weekends from October 28 to December 17 in the municipal territories of Apricena, Poggio Imperiale, Lesina, San Nicandro Garganico, Cagnano Varano, Rodi Garganico, Vico del Gargano, Peschici. The activities of the workshops are open to the different target audiences we work with on a daily basis and therefore to the disabled, families with children and those with celiac disease. Activities along the slow routes are also open to accompanied groups with animals in tow (pet friendly). The contact/booking center activity will be carried out and promoted by our information office and sales point (state road 693 of the lakes of Lesina and Varano), which boasts a daily international tourist influx, and at the IAT office in Lesina.