📝 About the Author: Matthias
Vieste is a real gem on the Apulian coast and one of my favorite places in Apulia! 🌊 🏖️ This charming coastal town, which extends into the Adriatic coast on a picturesque peninsula, is the epitome of la dolce vita. Here you can spend hours strolling through the winding streets of the historic old town, while the scent of freshly baked bread and Mediterranean herbs fills the air. The houses are built on impressive cliffs and the many lively squares in the city invite you to enjoy life to the full.
Vieste is located on the Gargano peninsula, about 2.5 hours north of Bari. This coastal pearl is a little further away than the tourist hotspots of Puglia, which are located south of Bari. The advantage of this is that it is still a bit more leisurely here and you are less likely to encounter large crowds of tourists.
You can easily spend 3-4 hours in Vieste. But Vieste is also a great place for an overnight stopover and a good starting point for exploring the entire Gargano region, which is also one of the largest national parks in Italy.
1. Faro di Vieste
The lighthouse of Vieste stands on the island of Santa Eufemia, off the coast of the city. It was built in 1867 according to the plans of Francesco Saverio Gatta and consists of a 27-meter-high octagonal limestone tower, which stands on a two-story guard house.
However, you cannot visit the lighthouse because it is not open to the public.
2. Scalinata dell’Amore di Vieste
A tourist attraction and also a very popular photo spot is the Stairway of Love in Vieste, right in the center. It connects the upper part of the old town with the lower part at the town hall.
A touch of romance is a must: the text on the steps shows the lyrics of the love song “La Leggenda di Pizzomunno e Cristalda” by Max Gazzè.
At the beginning of September, there is also a series of events with various artists and musicians called “Vieste in Love”
3. Chiesa Rettoria di San Francesco
The Chiesa Rettoria di San Francesco is a limestone church built in the 18th century, located at the easternmost point of the Vieste peninsula. From here you have a great view of the city and the coast.
4. Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta
Vieste Cathedral is the central point in the upper part of the old town. It was built in the 11th century in the Romanesque style and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the years.
The church contains valuable works of art, including a wooden statue of the Madonna di Santa Maria di Merino from the 16th century.
5. Castello Svevo Aragonese
From the outside, the fortress of Vieste, located on the edge of the historic center, looks quite impressive. It was built under Norman rule in the second half of the 11th century at the highest point of the rock.
The fortress is a military area, so it is not open to the public and you can only walk around it. But even that is great, if only for the panoramic view.
6. Marina Piccola
I found one of the most beautiful places in Vieste to be the palm-lined square of Marina Piccola on Viale Marinai d’Italia.
In the evening, the square between the cinema and the tourist information office is very lively and offers a great view of the lighthouse and the illuminated coastal walls.
There are also some bars and restaurants where not only tourists, but also locals like to stop by.
7. Vieste Beach – Spiaggia di Castello
The Spiaggia di Castello, located south of the old town, stretches for kilometers. It is named after the 13th-century Castello Svevo.
8. Monolite Pizzomunno
The Spiaggia di Castello has another special feature – namely the Monolite Pizzomunno, a spectacular limestone monolith about 25 meters high.
The monolith is always surrounded by many vacationers, almost like moons around a planet. This may be due to a superstition that if you complete a full lap around the monolith, you will return to Vieste.
The Pizzomunno is the subject of a legend about a fisherman named Pizzomunno and his lover Cristalda, who returns from the depths of the sea every hundred years for one night to renew her love with Pizzomunno.
9. The old town
You don’t really need a plan to discover Vieste. It’s best to just drift and explore the winding streets of the old town on your own.
One of the most beautiful views of the old town was from a small, inconspicuous square at the end of Via Enrico Bacco. From here, at sunset, you can see the last rays of sunshine over the horizon onto the beach with its landmark – the Monolite Pizzomunno.
10. Trabucco Vieste
A trabucco is a traditional fishing structure found in Vieste and especially along the Gargano coast. The trabucchi have a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. They were built by farmers or shepherds out of wood and ropes to catch fish.
Some of the trabucci along the coast have also been converted into seafood restaurants or cafés. You can book yoga sessions on others.
Places to stay in Vieste
There are also some popular hotels here that can be considered for overnight stays, such as the family-run Hotel Seggio, which is located on a cliff directly in the old town and also offers a private beach.
Things to do in Vieste
Since Vieste is a coastal town, boat tours are of course a great way to explore not only the local coast but also the spectacular rock formations and caves in the surrounding area. There are even tours from here to the Tremiti Islands.
Vieste is a great place for a day trip on the Gargano peninsula. But it is also a great starting point for exploring other regions in the Gargano. Have you ever been to Vieste? How did you like it and what tips are missing here in the article? Write me a comment.
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