Vieste treasure of the Gargano

Vieste, a town of about 13,600 inhabitants in the province of Foggia, is the easternmost center of the Gargano peninsula, the spur of the boot of Italy, a karst promontory that extends towards the Adriatic. It is a village perched on a limestone promontory almost resting on the sea, with the typical characteristics of the coastal villages of the southern Mediterranean, white houses leaning against each other, narrow and winding alleys often interspersed with steep stairways, squares that open surprisingly like terraces overlooking the transparent water. The center of the town is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the Romanesque era, around the 11th century, with the late Baroque bell tower rebuilt in 1772 after a collapse. Entering the narrow streets between the local craft shops, a must is the Piazzetta Petrone, the living room of the city, a magnificent viewpoint from which it is possible to admire the Castle Beach, at the beginning of which the imposing silhouette of Pizzomunno rises, a limestone monolith 25 meters high, symbol of Vasto. When wandering around the center it is almost inevitable to climb the steps of the Scalinata dell'Amore, one of the stairs that connect the upper gate of the old city with Corso Fazzini painted with a white background on which red hearts and writings dedicated to love stand out. Another characteristic place is the lighthouse dating back to the 1800s, located on the islet of Sant'Eufemia, in front of the port, a reference point for boats that lap the Adriatic coast. The driving element of Vieste is the environment in which it is located, a wild natural casket in which ancient and fascinating traditions converge, which stuns with the colors and scents of its landscapes.