Just the Facts
Location:
East-central Italy
Nearest town:
Manfridonia
Favorite activities:
Hiking, swimming, cycling, scuba diving, boating
The Gargano peninsula, which juts far out into the Adriatic on Italy's east coast, is a biological oddity, full of plant and insect species found nowhere else in Europe. It is also a geological oddity, more like the karst districts of Yugoslavia than the neighboring regions of Umbria and Apulia.
Once heavily forested, most of the peninsula is now a rocky grassland interspersed with salt marshes and groves of giant yew and holm oak trees, all linked by a good system of walking trails. Small towns along the coast offer plenty of hotels and restaurants in a spectacular setting, and camping is permitted throughout the park. The danger of wildfire is high in the summer, however, so keep your eyes open and your campfires well guarded.
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
