Vieste, pearl of Gargano

Last week, the American web site BuzzFeed has published an article highlighting the 36 most beautiful Italian locations.

Well, among those there was Vieste, a picturesque town located in the hearth of Gargano.

I have been many times in Vieste.

I know it pretty well.

From my point of view, the way from Mattinata to Vieste is just astonishing, with so many beaches, small and big, crowdy and solitary.

There is the Mergoli beach with faraglioni in Mattinatella, soon after Mattinata, heading to Vieste.

Then, you find Vignanotica.

After Vignanotica, there is Pugnochiuso, an amazing place where you may admire the Portopiatto beach.

A couple of miles after Pugnochiuso, there is Porto Greco, another amazing beach.

I have been in Vieste to investigate about Mimmo Sesta, one of the heroes of tunnel 29 in Berlin, during the “cold war”.

Mimmo Sesta was born in Vieste.

The territory of Vieste has been inhabitated since the Paleolithic.

A couple of miles from Vieste, It has been discovered one of the biggest flint mine in Europe, the Defensola mine, which dates back to 5000 BC.

Vieste was looted by Venetians in 1239.

However, the major disaster occurred in 1554, with the Turkish, led by Dragut Rais.

Thousands of inhabitants have been beheaded on chianca amara (rock of sorrow).









Vieste is one of the tourist capital of Apulia.

I strongly recommend you to visit la perla del Gargano, at anytime, except on August, because it's just so crowdy.

You better visit it on May, June or even September.

Once there, do not forget to visit the old ghetto, located in Via Giudeca.