Coastal destination with islands
Birdwatch at Lesina Lake and Varano
Adventure through the ancient Umbra forest by bike or horse
Explore sacred caves
Walk on ancient paths filled with history
Gargano is located in the beautiful Bay of Monte Gargano and has more than 40 points of interest for those who wish to observe marine wildlife. Tremiti islands is an archipelago of five islands, all of which have different characteristics for divers. Punta Secca dive spot has shoals of castagnolas, sea breams, dentexes, barracudas and tuna among red and yellow gorgonias. The Secca del Pedagno shallows has a wall covered by antiphatella subpinnata, which is an unforgettably gorgeous black coral.
Two large lakes on the southern Adriatic coast, Lesina Lake and Varano, are very important sites for wintering waterbirds (more than 20,000 occur regularly at Lesina alone). Flamingos are always a colorful showstopper.
The Umbra forest is home to trees so special and old that it is a Unesco site. The shady green haven hosts beech trees, turkey oaks, oak trees, maple trees, and holm oaks – there is even one famous holm oak that is taller than 50 meters and has a circumference of 5 meters! It grows in front of a picturesque Franciscan convent where it was supposedly planted by the friar Nicola da Vico in the 1700s. This forest can be explored by mountain or on hardy Murgese horses, a traditional breed here that is a cross between Barb and Arabian bloodlines.
The Apulian coast is scattered with caves that have been sculpted by thousands of years of rainwater and crashing sea waves. No trip to Puglia is complete without taking a canoe or a paddleboat to see this stunning landscape of caves, chasms, sinkholes and overhangs that are made even more enchanting by the reflections of light on stalactites, stalagmites and ravines. Both Pugnochiuso and Vieste offer organized tours throughout the summer season.
There’s plenty to choose from, but one experience not to miss is meandering the Via Romea-Francigena through the city of Monte Sant’Angelo. Here you will find what National Geographic has called one of the ten most important sacred caves in the world. There is a sanctuary of St. Michael which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the “Places of Power” of the Lombards in Italy.
A coastal paradise at the southern point of Puglia, most activities here revolve around the gorgeous water. Whether you want to explore world famous sea caves, scuba, snorkel, kite surf or cliff climb, every day here is a fabulous day for the beach.
This untouched inland destination of gentle undulating countryside has immense natural biodiversity to explore year round. Because of how the park is positioned, visitors are rewarded with incredible landscapes at sunrise and sunset. The area is known for its archaeological finds of great importance, such as the well preserved fossil skeleton of the “Man from Altamura”, who lived here 150 thousand years ago.
This destination in southern Puglia is a natural paradise with the Mediterranean bush and a marine protected area of sandy coves and translucent water ideal for scuba and snorkel. There is even a beach which has been awarded 3 Sails by Legambiente (an Italian environment protection association) – an honor given only to the most beautiful beaches.
This coastal destination in the north is just 1 hour drive from Bari and rewards visitors with some of the oldest trees in Italy (Aleppo pines) and islands surrounded by crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. Covering over 120,000 hectares, there are endless options to explore on land and water.
This coastal destination in the north is just 1 hour drive from Bari and rewards visitors with some of the oldest trees in Italy (Aleppo pines) and islands surrounded by crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. Covering over 120,000 hectares, there are endless options to explore on land and water.
